Glass ... .... ■■■ . ' - \ . 

Book_ 



I / T E N . s \ 

SERMON 



ON THE 

POWER, & GRACE OF CHRl 

AND ON 

THE EVIDENCES OF HIS GLOi 
GOSPEL; 

JPreac&en arjSort&amptcr 

BY P. DODDRIDGE, D. B- 
«f itf-EiT EDITION, 



itonDon ; 

Printed for the booksellers; 
l0chiiead and gracie, 



TO THE 

YOUNG PERSONS 

OF THE 

AUDITORY and SOCIETY 
Under my stated Ministerial Care^ 
A New Edition j 
Of these TEN SERMONS, 

AT FIRST PREACHED AND PUBLISHED 
With a peculiar View to their Edification* 
IS NOW 

k WITH THE MOST CORDIAL PRAYERS 

FOR THEIR 

Temporal and Eternal HAPPINESS, 

INSCRIBED BY 

Their most Affectionate Friend 
and faithful Servant, in the 

Bonds of our common Lord, 

P. DODDRIDGE 



PREFACE. 



THE ten following Sermons were at firft 
preached in the year 1735, and published 
at the defire of William Coward, Efq ; with 
fome peculiar regard to the young perlons 
under my care God hath been pleafed to 
give them fuch acceptance in the world, that I 
cannot but hope, they have been made ufeful ; 
and therefore I ihall not make any apology for 
complying with the requeft of a great number 
of friends, fome of them at great diftances from 
each other, in publifhing this new edition ; 
which has been ready for the prefs a confider- 
able time, though a feries of accidents prevent- 
ed its being fooner difpatched. 

I HxivE in one Place and another made 
feveral additions, [which are diftkiguifhed by 
crotchets^ efpecialiy in the three lait fermons, 
which I have ltudied to make as plain, and as 
comprehensive as pollible *, and knowing the 
vaft importance of the iubject, have fpared no 
pains to finifti them. 

I purpose, before I publifh the third volume 
of my family expofitor, to perform the promife 
I made in the felt, by adding to theie three 
(ermons on the evidence of chriftianity, a few 
more on the infpiration of the new teitament, 

a 3 



PREFACE. 

Jet ulnefs particularly of its hiftorical 
But providence has for die prefent 
ily called me out to fome other 
/hich I hope may be an equivalent 
to tne public for the delay of thefe. 

My fermons on regeneration are now in the 
prefs, and the importunity of one of the greateft 
and beft of friends to whom nothing is to be 
denied*, has engaged me to attempt a farther 
profecution of that important fubje£tj under 
the title of the rife and progrefs of the divine 
life in the foul. I mention this undertaking, 
chiefly with a view of recommending myfelf to 
the prayers of my many chriftian friends, while 
I am purfuing it ; and fo much the rather, as 
according to the Plan, which with my friend's 
ailiftance I have drawn of it, I perceive it will 
be a work of as great variety and difficulty, as 
any of a practical nature in which I have ever 
been engaged. 

If any alk, why I publifh fo many things on 
thefe practical fubjects, fo often handled by a 
variety of writers ; I anfwer in a few words, 
with all fimplicity, as before him to whom I 
am fliortly to render an account of all my 
actions and views, " becaufe I know the gofpel 
to be true, and through divine grace I feel in 
my heart, an ardent concern for the falvation of 
men's fouls/' This renders fuch meditations 
my delight, and makes me defirous of warning 
every man, and teaching every man, that I 
may prefent every man perfect: in Chrift Jefus. 
And in this view, as other cares appear trifling, 
* The Reverend Dr. Watts. - 



fo the limits of one congregation, or coilhfcty, 
and of the little 
fpend in life, i : 

were pofiible to to the ends of m earth, 

and to the end c 

which are empl , iuch 

plain things will oe nc^iccicu anu defpifed L 7 
many : but I am as fure, there are many others, 
who thirft for them and relifh them. And as 
I endeavour to write on the common general 
principles of chriftianity, and not in the narrow 
fpirit of any particular party, I blef s God I have 
the pleafure to fee my writings, imperfect as 
they are, favoured by many excellent perfons 
of different denominations ; and I hope there- 
fore, they may be a means of fpreading a 
ferious and candid fpirit, which I am fure it is 
my moft earned labour and prayer that they 
may. 

To intend well, is a foundation of the moft 
folid happinefs in life •, and to be rightly under- 
stood in thofe intentions, is one of its moft 
fenfible delights. The malignity of fome 
tempers will put a finifter interpretation, on 
the moft upright and the moft benevolent 
undertakings ; but I am perfuaded, that where 
God is pleafed to give an unfeigned zeal for the 
honour of his gofpel and an overflowing love 
to the fouls of men, he will fmile on the 
attempts which proceed from fuch a principle, 
and will teach his fervants a language, which 
good men will generally underftanc, and the 
force of which they will feel. 

Besides this, as almoft every writer has a 
A 4 



PREFACE. 

number of felect friends, who read his works, 
and perhaps love them, becaufe they are his \ 
io I mtift always acknowledge the divine good- 
nefs to me, in giving me a (hare in the very 
indulgent regards of many mod valuable per- 
fphsj 1 1 rts of our land, whofe kind 

acceptance of my poor attempts of fervice I 
have found far beyond my expectation, and 
whofe friendfhip I confider as my greateft 
earthly treafure. The number has greatly in- 
creafed fince the firft edition of thefe fermons 
was publifhed ; and as this laft, and (through 
the continued care of my good brother Mr. 
Goodwin), much more correct edition, comes 
out at their earned requeft, I doubt not but they 
will, as in other inftances, do their part to- 
wards giving it fuch a fpread as may, by the 
divine blefling, anfwer the end of rendering it 
as extenfively ufeful as poffible. 

Growing experience convinces me, that I 
have no r^afon to fear, left candid and judicious 
readers fhould be offended with me, for having 
given way to fome warmth of devout affection, 
in the greateft part of thefe difcourfes, and in 
others, which I have mentioned above : the fub- 
jectsare of a nature, not only to excufe, but to 
require it. And while I have any reverence 
for fcripture, or any knowledge of human 
nature, I {hall never affect to fpeak of the 
glories of Chrift, and the eternal intereft of 
men, as coldly as if I were reading a lecture 
of mathematics, or relating an experiment of 
natural philofophy. I hope I {hall always 
remember^ how unworthy the character of a 



man and a ch -ikiari it in, to nr v Tanf. 

pok pen's paili* ->s, while the uilietftaitdkiff is 
left: uninformed, or the judgment dncoiavineed . 
but fp. far as k eonfiftent with a j •••opef regatd 
to thefe leading pewers of our sratu? ~ 1 he; 
pray, that I, and all other gofj>e! .win -iters, 
■lb feel the energy of divine truths on our own 
fouls, as to preach and write concerning them 
with an holy fervency and ardour ; ncr can I 
imagine, it would bode well to the intereft of 
religion in general, to endeavour to lay all 
thofe paffions alleep, which fureiy were im- 
planted in our hearts by God, to fubferve the 
religious, as well as civil life, and which after 
all will probably be employed to fome very ex- 
cellent, or very pernicious purpofes. 

I would hope, that thefe ferrnons, and thofe 
on regeneration, will be of fome fervice to 
religious families, efpecially on the evenings of 
the Lord's day. We are happy in a great 
number of excellent difcourfes fuitable to fuch 
an occafion, and perhaps in none more fuitable, 
than in the two volumes of ferrnons at Berry- 
ftreet ; of which I can with great cheerfulnefs 
repeat what I faid, wheri making my acknow- 
ledgments to the founder, immediately after 
their publication ; " that I cannot recollect 
where I have feen a fet of important thoughts 
on fuch various and weighty fubjects more 
judicioufly felected, more accurately digeited, 
more clofely compacted, more naturally ex- 
preffed, or in a few words more powerfully in- 
forced, than I have generally found in thofe 
ferrnons 5 on account of which* I doubt not 
A 5 



n abound- 



>e engaged 

with thole worthy authors in the fame great 

minds to a 

•Cevipt u ra i religion and a chrUUan U mper ; arid 

ppeai much more 
fplendid in the eyes of the learned and the 
polite world, I truft ours will at leaft be as 
favourably remembered in the prefence of our 
Lord Jefus Chrift at his coming; and I would 
have no ftandard of honour, wifdom, and- hap* 
pinefs %hich will not ftand the teft of that im* 
portant day. 

Northampton, 
June 9 , 1 741, 




SERMON I. 



The Ability of Christ to save 
termost, 

SERMON II 
The Proofs of Christ's Ability tt 

SERMON III. 

Christ's Saving Power argued froi, 
Intercession. 

SERMON IV. 

Coming to God by Christ, the Character of 
those that shall be saved. 

SERMON V. 

An Exhortation to Sinners to come unto 
God by Christ. 



CONT£NTS. 



SERMON VI. 



lerness of Christ to the Lambs 
of his Flock. 



SERMON VII. 

, of Christ's Tenderness, and the 
Improvement we mould make of it. , * 



SERMON Fill. 




he Evidences of Christianity, briefly- 
stated, and the New Testament proved to 
be genuine- 



SERMON IX. 

The Evidences of Christianity, deduced 
from the New Testament, allowed to be 
genuine. 



SERMON X. 

Additional Evidences of Christianity, and Re- 
flections on the whole. 



SERMON L 

The Ability of CHRIST to fave to the ut- 
termost. 

Heb. vii. 25. 

Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the utter- 
mo/1, that come unto God by him, feeing he ever 
liveth to make inter ceffion for them. 

A VARIETY of trifles in life are daily break- 
ing in upon us, and hurrying us away into a 
forgetfulnefs of God, and ourfelves. But how 
much foever we may be careful and cumbered, 
agitated and diftratied, about many things, one 
thing is needful (a), viz. the approach of the 
foul to God, that it may fee and enjoy his 
falvation. — The mofl important queftion is that 
of the awakened and trembling jailor, " what 
(hall I do to be faved ?" And the only pertinent 
anfwer to that queftion, is that which the 
apoftle gave, " believe in the Lord Jefus Chrift, 
and thou,fhalt be faved (b)." 

And have thefe later days, thefe ages (as we 
are ready fondly to imagine them) of greater 
refinement and reafon, difcovered any new 



a. Luke x. 41, 42. 



b. Adls xvi. jO } 31. 



1 4 The Ability of CHKIST, SER. i. 

method of falvation ? God forbid, there mould 
ever be any pretence to it ! when we fee a 
perfon, like our Lor3, appearing in an oppofite 
caufe, with an equal pomp of .miracles, with 
equal demonftration and powder of the fpixit, we 
may perhaus let go that anchor of our fouls, 
which we now eiieem as fure and ftedfaft (c) ; 
but till then, we will, by divine grace, 
ftrenuoufly retain that gofpel, which is record- 
ed by thole, who firft preached it, with the holy 
Ghoft fent down from heaven (d); and if an 
angel was to appear, in robes of the purelt 
light, and with ail the charms of a ccleltial 
eloquence, to cftabliih any other foundation, 
far irom yielding to the evidence of fuch a 
•iingle wonder, in oppofition to fo many greater, 
we would hold that angel accurfed (e) ^ as we 
might certainiy conclude, that he wore a deceit- 
ful form, and was a meflenger from the fa- 
ther of lies. 

If the gofpel be indeed of divine original, and 
we are not following cunningly devifed Fables 
(f ), it is moft certain that thofe doctrines, which 
are peculiar to it, are not only true but infinitely 
important. And ihall we, who are Rewards 
of the myfteries of God (g), decline initiiting 
upon them, becaufe they are fuch common 
topics, and becaufe we mull, in effect, be 
obliged to fay the fame things again and again I 
As well might we defpife bread becaufe it is 
an old faftiioned diet, on which our anceftors 
have fed for a long fucceilion of ages, and on 



c. Heb. vi. 19. d. 1 Pet. \. 12. e. Gal. i. 8. 
f. z Pet. i. 16. g. 1 Cor. iv. i. 



SER. I. to Save to the Uttermost. J 5 

which the loweft of our fpecies are fubfifted. 
As reafonably, and much more fafely, might 
the phyfician decline the ufe of all the moft 
celebrated medicines, recommended by the 
experience of many hundred years, and pride 
himfelf in trying only fuch, as had hitherto been 
intirely unknown : nay he might much better 
do it *, for it is poflible, that there may yet lie 
hid, amongft the fecrets of nature, fome plant** 
or drug of unknown virtues, fome richer 
cordial, and more fovereign antidote, than has 
ever yet been difcovered : but we are as fure, as 
we can be of any thing in the revelation we 
profefs to believe, that there is faivation in no 
other, neither is there any other name under 
heaven given among men, but that of Jefus (h), 
whereby they can obtain righteoutnefs and 
life. 

I hope therefore, it will not (as, I am fure, 
it mould not) be difagreeable to you to hear, 
that, after the many facred hours we have fpent 
together in meditations on fuch fubjetts as thefe, 
I am again to refume the theme, and to dif- 
courfe to you from it for fome fucceeding 
fabbaths. I do it at the defire of a friend (i), 
who has recommended the fubjecl: to me with 
a peculiar regard to the rifing generation, for 
whofe ufe thefe difcourfes are to be made yet 
more public. And I would hope, they will not 
be the lefs agreeable to my younger friends or 
any of my other hearers, becaufe they are 

h. Acls iv, 12. 

i. Theie Sermons were first preached and publiflied at 
the delire of WillilUO Cev/ard, Efc[. ' 



i 1 6 The Ability of Christ, ser. r> 

equally the concern of all ; and fuch a concern, 
as to be the very life of our fouls, and (as I 
have largely (hewn elfewhere) (k) the only 
foundation of our eternal hopes. 

The holy apoftle Paul had (as he elfewhere 
very emphatically fcxprefles it) a continual, moil 
tender and zealous arFeclion for his brethren of 
the Jewifh Nation, his kinfmen according to the 
flefh (1) \ and this epiftle is a remarkable monu- 
ment of it. It was indeed directed to the believ- 
ing Hebrews, and its molt evident defign is, to 
animate them to adhere refolutely to the chriftian 
faith, whatever dangers or difficulties might 
attend that refolution. But the mind of this 
excellent man was very capacious, and conti- 
nually filled with a variety of fchemcs for the 
advancement of the go-pel, the glory cf his 
Lord, and the ialvation of fouls : and at; he could 
not but know, that it was highly probable, that 
this, rather than any of his other epiitles, would 
fall into the hands of many, as yet, unconverted 
Jews, he not only conceals his name, againft 
which he knew they were ftrongly prejudiced 
but in a very wife and happy manner, makes 
ufe of fuch fentiments, and fuch language here, 
as might be very proper to awaken and con- 
vince the unconverted, as well as to affiit the 
faith and the joy of them who had " believed in 
Chrift, that they might be juftified by him, and 
not by the works of the law (m)." And if any 
have not made this remark, I apprehend they 
have loll much of the ftrength and beauty of 
this excellent epiftle. 

"k. See my Sermons to young People, Numb. IT. 
1, Rom. it. 3. , ra. Ga T . ii* i& 



ser. r. to Save to the Uttermost. 1 7 

In purfuit of thefe great and very harmonious 
defigns, the facred writer infifts largely on the 
dignity of the perfon, and offices of our great 
Redeemer. He reprefents him, as far fuperior 
to the moft exalted angels (n), and therefore 
much more to the moft excellent of the children 
of men ; fuperior to Mofes, that moft honour- 
able fervant of the Lord, who was faithful in all 
his houfe (o) \ fuperior to Abraham, the friend 
of God, and father of the faithful (p) ; fuperior 
to Aaron, the prieft of the Lord, and all the 
holy family defcehded from his loins (q). And 
it is on this branch of the argument that he is 
now infilling. He labours at large by a chain 
of reafoning, whichj have not time to trace, ta 
{hew that our Lord was made after the order 
of Melchizedec, in many glorious and impor-* 
tant circurnftances, in which the priefthood of 
Melchizedec was fuperior to that of Aaron, and 
his fons : And amongft other inftances, this is 
one of the moil confiderable, that whereas in 
the family of Aaron there were fucceffively 
many high-priefts, becaufe they were not fuffer- 
ed to continue by reafonof death, this illuftrious 
perfon, the Lord Jefus Chrift, becaufe he con- 
tinues ever, in immortal life and glory 5 hath an 
unchangeable priefthood (r), (or as the word 
moft exaftly fignifies) a priefthood which 
does not pafs from one fucceffor to another. 
Now, from hence the apoille draws that im- 
portant inference, in the words of my text, 
" wherefore he is able to fave to the uttermoft" 

n. Heb. i. and ii. o. Heb. ill 2 — 6. p. Hcb. vii. 4—7. 
q. Heb. viii. 11, &c feq. r. Heb. vii. 23, 24. 



1 8 The Ability of CHRIST, SER. I. 

completely and perpetually to fave, all that, in 
the remoteft ages and nations of the world, 
defire to come unto God by him, (or to make 
ufe of his mediation, when they approach the 
throne of God as humble worfhippers) feeing 
he ever lives to make a mod prevalent inter- 
ceffion for them *, of which, (as the apoftle elfe- 
where more largely ftates it) (t) the interceffion 
of the high-prieft before the mercy-feat, on the 
folemn day of atonement, was but a very im- 
perfect type. 

It will be the bufinefs of feveral fucceeding 
difcourfes on thefe words, 

I. To confider what we are to understand by ChrinVs 
being able to fave to the uttermeft. 

II. To prove that he is really fo. 

III. To confider the particular Argument for it, which 
the Apoftle draws from his ever living to make Interceffion 
for them, And 

IV. To ftate the character of thofe who may expecl: fal- 
vation from him, which is here exprefTed by their coming 
to God by him. 

You fee the copioufnefs of the fubjeft we 
are entering upon. I fhall endeavour in the 
profecutioruof it, to lay before you the genuine 
dotlrine of the gofpel on thefe various and 
important heads, with plainnefs and ferioufnefs. 
And I humbly implore the influence of the 
divine fpirit, to opea mine eyes, that I am be- 
hold the wonders contained in his word (u) ; 
and to open your ears fo to hear them, and 
your heart fo to embrace them, that every foul 
here prefent may be an eternal monument of 
Chrift's being able to fave to the uttermoit, and 
t. Hefe. ix. y, & feq. u. Hal. cnix. iS. 1 



SER. I. to Save to the Uttermost. 19 

may for ever live to receive the fruits of that 
interceffion, which our bleffed high-prieft is 
ever living to make. Amen, 

First, I am to confider what we are to un- 
derftand by Chrift's being able to fave to the 
uttermoft. 

For clearing up this matter, I would only 
offer thefe three remarks. — It implies the danger 
and calamity of thofe, to whom Chrift is pro- 

pofed as a Saviour it exprefles a power of 

working out compleat deliverance for them ; 

— and it farther imports the continuance of 

that faving power without diminution or decay 
throughout all fucceeding generations. 

1. When Chrift is fpoken of as able to fave, it ftrongly 
^ implies, 44 that thofe, to whom he is propofed as a 
Saviour, are, without him, in a ftate of danger and 
calamity." 

It would be a foolifh mifpending of time to 
attempt to prove at large, that in fcripture, as 
well as in ordinary fpeech, to fave and to deliver 
are words of the fame import. Jefus {hall 
fave his people from their fins (w) ; and he 
delivers us from the wrath to come (x). 

It is a moft obvious remark, but fo necefTary, 
as not to be lightly difmiffed, that the whole 
have no need of a phyfician, but they who are 
fick (y) and the fecure have no need of a 
Saviour, but they who are in danger. And as 
the apoftle argues, that if Chrift died for all ; 
then were all dead (z)> all were in a ft ate of 
death, or they would not have needed fuch an 

w. Mat. i. 21. x. 1 Theft* i. 10. y. Mat. ix. 12- 
z. 2 Cor. v. 14. 



20 The Ability of CHRIST, SER. i. 

expiatory facrifice ; fo we may affure ourfelves, 
that if Chrift is to be offered to all as a Saviour, 
then were all In a date of ruin. And if he is 
of God to be made unto us wifdom, and 
righteoufiiefs, and falsification, and redemption 
(a), then are we without him deftitute of all 
thefe, fooiiih and guilty, polluted and inflaved, 
condemned and perifhing. 

This is ex£refly afferted in a variety of fcrip- 
tures, largely and laborioufly proved in the three 
firft chapters of St. Paul's epiitle to the Romans 
and generally acknowledged by ail who pretend 
to believe the gofpel ; as indeed it muft be, df 
they would not in the moft notorious manner 
contradift themfelves. Yet, alas, how little 
is it felt ! We fee it in the indolence of men'* 
lives ; we fee it in the air of indifference with 
which the tidings of falvation are commonly 
received. The greater part of mankind are 
foothed into an infenfibility of their danger ; 
they are amufed with the dreams of fenfual 
pleafure, with the vain rovings of a gay imagi- 
nation, and the fond expectation of a thoufand 
fatisfa&ions, which they never have found, 
and never will find, in life. And hence it 
comes to pafs, that they hear not the thunder 
of God's law, loud and dreadful as it is ; nor 
fee the flaming-fword of his vengence, ilrc'cched 
out againft them, and juft ready to give them 
the mortal blow. And probably it is the cafe 
of feveral among you. Perhaps many of you 
may find, even on the mod tranfient reflection, 
that you were never alarmed with a fenfe cf 

a. i Cor. i. 30. 



SER. I. io Save to the Uttermost. 



21 



your danger, nor faw yourfelves perifhing with- 
out a Saviour ; but if it be fo, give me leave to 
proclaim it aloud, with all the earneftnefs which 
is fuited to a matter of life and death, that it 
is time, high time for you, immediately to a- 
wake out of fleep (b) ; for you nod on the brink 
of a precipice, and there is but a handVbreadth 
between you and eternal ruin. 

In the name of God, firs, and as you love 
your own fouls, roufe up your ftupified fenfes, 
and open thofe drowfy eyes. Look into the 
holy law of God, and read over the reco^s of 
confeience ; and fee the agreement, or rather 
the dreadful difagreement, and contrariety be- 
tween them : fuch a contrariety, that one would 
almoft think, you imagined that the commands 
of God were given to tell you, what you fhould 
not do, rather than what you mould, and dare 
you imagine, that the eternal God, with all his 
almighty power, and all his unfpotted holinefs, 
y/ill look with indifference on the violation of 
feis law, merely becaufe you have the boidnefs 
to violate it with indifference ? Do you think he 
had no meaning, or that it was not a meaning 
full of terror, when he told the Israelites of old, 
that if they prefumed thus to walk contrary to 
him, they fhould " be curfed in the city, and 
curfed in the field, curfed in the fruit of their 
body, and in the fruit of their ground, curfed 
in their coming in, and curfed in their going 
out (c) i" nay, that a " fire mould be kindled 
in his anger, that fhould burn even unto the 
ioweft heh that fhould confume the earth with 
b. Rom. siii. n. c. Deut. xxviii. 16— icj, 



22 The Ability of Christ, ser. i. 

her increafe, and fet on fire the foundations of 
the mountains (d) ? Think you the fcripture 
fpeaks in vain (e), when it fays fuch terrible 
things as thefe ? or will you fay, thefe things 
were only fpoken to the Jews of old ? Can you 
imagine, that fins committed in the land of 
Canaan, fome thoufands of years ago, fnould 
provoke the eyes of God's hoiinefs, and kindle 
the flames of his wrath and that he mould 
wink at crimes committed in the prefent age, 
and in Britain while we have higher advan- 
tages to know our duty, and ftronger engage- 
ments to perform it, than even that favourite 
nation of Ifrael had ? I appeal to your con- 
fciences, finners, whether this thought has even 
the lighteft degree of probability in it. And 
if it has not not, then furely here is danger and 
horror, in all their molt frightful forms. To 
fee the drawn fword of an inexorable enemy, 
waved round your defencelefs head or pointed 
at your naked breaft ; or to fee this building all 
in flames, and yourfelves furrounded beyond 
poflibility of efcape, (were the profped to 
terminate there) were a danger at which a man 
might jultly fmile, and (land collected and com- 
poied, when compared with that into which 
fin has brought you, and in which the gofpel 
finds you. 

And it is a terrible aggravation, that without 
divine afliftance this danger is inevitable. We 
can neither vindicate our conduct, nor atone 
for our offences *, we can neither avoid, nor in- 
dure the puniftiment, fhould God lay juftice 

d. Beut. xxxii. 3 2. e. Tarn. iv. 5. 



ser. i. to Save to the Uttermost. 23 

to the line, and righteoufnefs to the plummet (f). 
All our foul is infeebled, and all our nature 
corrupted ; and he mud be a great ftranger to 
himfelf as well as to the reft of mankind, who 
will not acknowledge with the apoftle, " that 
when we were yet without ftrength,* in due 
time Chrift died for us (g)". This is apparently 
the doctrine of the gofpei : And as the fore- 
itmnerof Chrift made way for him, by declaring 
that men were by their fin in danger of the 
wrath to come, and that the ax of divine judg- 
ment was laid to the root of the trees (h) ; fo I 
think it is our duty, as we tender the honour 
of our Redeemer and the falvation of your fouls, 
often to be reminding you of thefe things ; and 
the words of the text fo naturally imply them, 
that I am perfuaded you cannot think them a 
digreflion. But I add, 

2. When it is faid, that Chrift is able to fave to the utter- 
molt, it muft exprefs " a power of working out compieat 
deliverance for his people." 

So fome judicious commentators defcant upon 
thefe words, and I think with a great deal of 
reafon, " he is able to fave in the molt perfect 
manner, fo that nothing (hall be wanting to 
compieat the falvation (i)." And this is a 
thought of fo great importance to our joy and 
peace in believing, that'I will farther illultrate 
it by the mention of various particulars, which 
are evidently comprehended in compieat falva- 

f. Ifa. xxviii. 17. g. Rom. v. 6". h. Mat. iii. 7, 10. 

i. Perfecte, " live ad perfeclam seternamque fcelicitatem 
adducere." Eftius. Prorfus, vel abfolutiflime, " ita ut nihil 
ad earn falutem poffit amplius defiderari. Beza, in loc. 



„ 4 The Ability of Christ, , ser. i 

tion. But I fhall only touch on them now, be- 
caufe fome of them are to be refumed at large 

tfc*!ftiS£S* » »"f. " com /f tly 
to anfwer the demands *vir* jul^jnd there- 
by to fave us from the curfe of the law. -It 
wis indeed impoffible that the blood of bulls 

who SXbS^i fpA offered himfelf a 
Wlefe f^ficetoGod (1), mould avail to that 
le^pSpofe, and be accepted as an incite y 
valuable and ^equate faustacuon jult y may 
we conclude, that the offended deity is no* 

feSfSfTlSnS Sand honour- 
S ^ £ ;t the decency and mo^go, 

as well "totte jgtin of God unt0 UJj 

fore God. foi ne is ' f tWcat i 011) in or. 
not only righteoufnef s, b ^Jg*^ p tU (p] 
der to his being made compleat reaei v 

1 Web xi 14. »• Aa? X1U- 39 * 

o fa'.tx3 4 p.xCo,i.3°. 



3ER. t* to Save to the Uttermost. 2^ 

* Y/hen our own moft vigorous efforts for 

us, and prove too feeble to break thofe cords a* 
funder, by which we are naturally inflaved and 
difgraced \ when we find that to attempt a 
reformation of our corrupt habits and exorbi- 
tant paflions, is but as if the ethiopian fhould 
labour to change his fkin, or the leopard his 
fpots (q) ; by the law of the fpirit of life in. 
Chrift Jefus, we may be made free from the 
law of fin and death (r), and be formed by his 
grace to fuch a temper, as may render our fouls 
a delightful habitation for a holy God. As by 
his healing touch in the days of his flefti, he 
removed an inveterate leprofy, which no human 
methods of cure could reach fo can he diffufe 
purity and health throughout all the foul, if he 
put forth his gracious hand, and fay, to the 
moil polluted and degenerate creature, I will, 
be thou clean (s). Again, 

The Lord Jefus Chrift is able to fave his 
people, M from all the artifice and power of the 
prince of darknefs." — If that crooked ferpent 
attempt to infmuate himfelf into the hearts of 
Chrift's people by the moft artful methods, he 
ran trace all his winding ways \ and as all the 
treafures of divine wifdom are hid in him (t), 
he knows how to turn all the moft wily practices 
of this experienced deceiver into his own con- 
fufion ; to detect every laboured ftratagem, and 
from the moft dangerous fnares to teach fuch 
ufeful leflbns of holy prudence, as fliall tend to 
the future fecurity, as well as the immediate 

q. Jer. xiii. 23. r. Rom. viii. 2. s. Mat, via, ^ r 
t* Coi, ii. 3. 



26 The Ability of CHRIST ser. r, 

deliverance of his fervants. — Or fhould Satan 
put on the form of a roaring lion, to throw their 
fouls into a trembling horror, it (hall appear in 
this refpeft as in others, that the lion of the 
tribe of Judah prevails (u). He who has fpoiled 
principalities and powers, and made a {how of 
them openly on the crots (w), will ftill aflert 
the conqueft he has gaiird. And it mall appear, 
to the everlafting disappointment and fhame of 
all the hoft of hell, that it was not a vain boaft, 
but the words of eternal wifdomj as well as 
invariable faithfulnefs, when he laid, " I will 
give unto my fheep eternal life, and they (hall 
never perifh, neither fhall any pluck them out 
of my hand" (x). Which leads me to add : 
further, 

That Chrift is able to fave to the uttermoft, 
as, he can enable his people to perfevere to the 
end of their courfe, even in the midft of the 

rnofl formidable oppofition." —The ftate of 

a chriftian is indeed a warfare, and he had need 
to be compleatly armed for the combat ; but he 
may depend on being victorious in it, under 
the conduct of the great captain of his falvation, 
who can teach his hands to war, and his fingers 
to fight, fo that even a bow of fteel mould be 
broken by his naturally feeble arms (y). Jefus, 
his great covenant-head, to whom the fplrit is 
given without meafure (z), can pour it out in 
to plentiful a manner, that were a career of 
labour, or of fuffering, arduous and hazardous 
as that of the bleffed apoftle Paul, to be opened 

u, Rev. v. v. w. Col. ii. 15. * x. John x. 2$, | 
?fah xv#, 34, z. John iiL 34. 



SER. I. 



to Save to the Uttermost, 



2 7 



before the weakeft faint, he might fay with fuch 
compofure and intrepidity, as Paul did, I can 
do ail things, or am fufficient for all, through 
Chrift that ftrengthened me (a) ; and might 

I repeat the triumph which he has taught us, 
what {hall feparate us from the love of Chrift ? 
" mall tribulation, or diftrefs, or perfecution, or 
famine, or nakednefs, or peril, or fword ? Nay 
in ail thefe things we are more than conquerors, 
through him that loved us" (b). Yea, 

Our bleffed Redeemer is able to fave to the 
uttermoft, as "he can fupport his people in 

1, death, and receive their fpirits to a world o£ 
glory." — In that awful hour, when the deareft 
of their human friends Hand around them with 
*tears of unavailing pity, he can command 
deliverance for them \ he can fupport them, 
though flefh and heart fail (c), by the lively 
views of approaching glory, while he ftrengthens; 

Jj the eye of faith, to fee, as it were, heaven 
opened, and himfelf (landing at the right hand 

; ot God (d), to receive the departing fpirit. So 
that the chriftijn may juftly make his exit from 

* off the ftage of life, with thofe graceful words 

!: ; of the apoitle, " I know whom I have believed, 
and am punuaded that he is able to keep what 

! I have committed to him until that day (e)." 

,| And when he hath (hot the awful gulph, and 

V is cut oft from any farther commerce witvb 
earth and its inhabitants, he ftill finds himi 

: in a province of the Redeemer's empire, and 
feels the important fupport of that hand, which 

Phii. iv. 13. b. Rom. vm. 35, 37, c. Pfal. lsziii. 26, 



1 




2$ Ihe Ability of Chr: *T y ser. t e 

bears the keys of death and the unfeen world 
(f). And to add no more on this head, 

Th£ Lord Tefus Chrift is able to lave his 
people to the uttermoft, as "he can raife their 
bodies from the diffolution of the grave, and 
conducTt their compleat perfons to the regions 
of eternal felicity." — He is the refurre&ion and 
the life (g) 5 and though death he the king of 
terrors (h), he knows and owns the conqueit of 
the king of glory, who will at length fwallow 
him up in victory (i) ; fo that there lhall be no 
remainder of his power, than if he had never 
never invaded any of the fubjecis of Chriit. 
Their triumphant prince will verify the heroic 
%vords of Mofes to the Egyptian tyrant, in a far 
fiiore exalted fenfe ; there {hall not a hoof be 
left behind (k). The fleeping duft of his 
people, wherever it be difperfed, is ftill within 
the ken of his difcerning eye, and the reach of 
hi$ almighty hand ; and when the appointed 
hour is come " all that are in the graves fnaii 
hear the voice of the fan of God, and fliall 
come forth (1) j" and fo iliuftrious a change fhall 
pals on their vile bodies, that they mall be 
fahhioned like unpo his own glorious body, ac^- 
cording to that mighty power whereby he is 
able even tofubdueall things unto himfeif (m). 
When this noble work of his power ihall be 
accomplifhed, and in it the fchemes of his love 
compleated, with regard to all his elect, then 
ihall he be glorified in his faint?, and admired 

f. Rev. i. 18. g. John xi. 25. h. Job xvilu 14, 

J, 1 Cor. xv. 54, k« Lxod. x. 2 5. L John v. zS t 20, 
Hid Ph}h iii. 31, 



ser. I. ' to Save to the Utter most, 2 9 

in all them that believe (n). Experience {hall 
then moft amply atteft, what fuch a variety o£ 
other evidences is now affuring us of-, and the 
whole redeemed world {hall ring with the joy- 
ful acknowledgment, that he is able to fave to 
the uttermoft, in the moft compleat manner, in 
the moft perfe£t degree. 

I know all thefe thoughts are common and 
plain ; yet I have infilled thus largely uporr 
them* becaufe they are the great foundations 
of our faith and hope : And had I been capable 
of furnifhing out any curious and abltrufe 
fpeculations on the fubje£t, I am fure, that 
when laid in the balance with thefe facred and 
important truths, they would have been lighter 
than a feather, weighed againft talents of gold- 
But I would proceed to obferve, 

3. That when it is faid, " Chrifr is able to fave to the 
uttermoSt," it may farther imply, " that the efficacy 
of his faving grace continues the fame, throughout all 
fucceeding ages." 

Some very celebrated commentators have 
taken the phrafe in this fenfe, and rendered it 
he is able always to fave (o) *, and it mult be 
confeffed, at leaft, that the following connection 
evidently proves this to be implied. For the 
apoftle had before obferved, that Chrift had an 
unchangeable priefthood, that admitted of no 
fucceffor and, in the clofe of the verfe, he, 
argues his ability to fave, from his ever living 
to make interceflion j and therefore it cannot 

n. 2 Theff. i. 10. 

0. " Chriftus non tantum potuit, quaftdo mortalis erat 9 
fed ct nunc contlnuo pcteft falvare.' 9 Eftitts in !oc» 



30 The Ability of CHRIST, ser. f t 

be improper here to touch on this thought, in 
which ever part of the text we fupppfe it chiefly 
to be fuggefted (p). 

Our Lord Jeius Chrift was able to fave, 
from the beginning. His energy wrought fron> 
the date of the firft promife to our fallen parents, 
as his faving power and grace were indeed the 
foundation of it* And ftill, from that day to 
the preferit, has the feed of the woman been 
bruiiing the ferpentshead(q), inmany inftances, 
which have been as prekides to the cpmpleat 
expected triumph. 

By faith in him, under the more obfeure 
difcoveries before his incarnation, the elders 
obtained a good report (r), and die^ in expec- 
tation of a better refurrection. Their faith 
embraced him, according to the degree in which 
he was revealed y they law his day, in a diftant 
profpe£l, and rejoiced (s) ; and. were received 
%o the divine favour here, and to eternal happi* 

p. I cannot thiiik it eafy, or neceflary, to determine, 
which of thefe two fenfes of " faving to the uttermoft" i§ 
to be preferred : it is certain, both the thoughts are com- 
prehended in the verfe. If by faving to the uttermcft, we 
underftand faving perpetually, the completenefs of the de- 
liverance is comprehended in the word fave ; if we prefer 
the other fenfe of faving completely, that comprehends the 
perpetuity of it, which is moft exprefsly afferted in the fol- 
lowing words. I think Brennius juftiy unites both, when 
he explains it, perfecle, et in perpetuurn aud I have 
the pleafure to find, fince I wrote this, that the great and 
excellent Dr. Owen explains the text in this extent, aimoft 
in the very words I had ufed above which therefore I fliali 
not tranferibe. See Owen on the Heb. Voh 3. p. 335, 
*nd 238. 

q. Qea? ill 15* r. Heb. xi, a. s. John xnl 



SER. I. io Save to the Vita most. 3 1 

nefs above, in regard to a facrifice which was 
yet to be offered, and a righteoufnefs which 
was yet to be wrought out* 

He appeared to be able to fa ve, when he 
dwelt on earth in a tabernacle of clay. Still 
I he mingled the dignity, and power of a God, 
with the abafements, and infirmities of a mortal 
man ; aflerting to himfelf the divine prerogative 
of forgiving fins (t) ; fpeaking of a glorious 
refurreclion, and eternal life, as his gift (u) \ 
reprefenting himfelf, as the head-ftone of the 
corner (w), on whom was fiVd all the ftrefs of 
men's eternal interefts ; and as the awful judge, 
before whofe tribunal the greateftof the children 
of men feould ftand, and from whom all {hould 
receive that decifive fentence, which feould fix 
them in final happinefs, or defpair (x). Nay, 
even in this deepen: humiliation, on the curfed 
tree, a ray of divine glory broke through that 
dark cloud of infamy, with which he was then 
furrounded ; and amidft all the fcorn and rage 
of infulting enemies, who were reproaching 
him as a wretch abandoned by God and man, 
he fpeaks from the crofs, as from the throne; 
and, as the king of heaven, takes upon him to 
difpofe of feats in paradife, and to promife life 
and glory to one who was then fearing with 
him in the agonies of death, and the ignominy 
of crucifixion ; " verily I fay unto thee, to-day 
{halt thou be with rne in paradife (y)." 

t. Mat. ix. 2, 6. Mat. xi. 5, 10. Luke vii. 47, 4S, 
u. John vi. 39, 44. x. 28. xi. 25, 26. w. Mat. xxi. 42. 
Mark xii. 10. Luke xx. 17. x. Mat. vii. 22, 23. xxv. 
31 — 4<5- ssyiy 64. John v. y\ Luke xxiii. 43, 



3 2 The Ability of ClIRIS T, • ser . r. 

Now if he were thus mighty to fave, when 
he dwelt in fo humble a form, when he palled 
through fo caiamitous a fcene ; how much more 
evidently is he fo, amidft all the magnificence 
of his exaltation in the higheft heaven ; whither 
he has afcended, as a glorious conqueror, hav- 
ing led captivity captive, and received gifts for 
men (z) ? Can we imagine, that an abode of 
feventeen hundred years at the right-hand of 
the majefty on high, has enervated his arm, 
that he cannot fave, or rendered his ear heavy, 
that he cannot hear ? It were a thought mod 
evidently abfurd! We may therefore confidently 
affiire ourfelves, that he is, at this moment, as 
able to exert an almighty power for the falva- 
tion of his people, as he was on that illustrious 
day, when he poured out the fpirit on his dife 
ciples, at the feast of Pentecost ; or that in 
which he appeared to Paul on the way to 
Damafcus with the glories of heaven new upon 
him, even with a luftre exceeding that of the 
meridian fun, and in a moment fubdued his 
itubborn heart, and transformed him from a 
perfecutor to an apoftle. 

Still is our Redeemer able to fave, and mall 
continue to be fo. When we, and our children, 
are laid in the duft of death, he {hall be the 
joy and confidence of a new race of believers > 
and to the very end of time, one generation 
fhall arife, and declare his righteoulnefs to a- 
nother (a), and that righteoufnefs fhall ftill 
retain its original value. This foundation of 
God fhall ftand fure, though rocks moulder 
z. Eph. iv. 8. a. Pfai. xxii. 31. 



$E&. I. to Save to the Uttermost, 33 

into dud, and the mountains are removed out 
of their place; yea, when the fun (hall fade 
away in its orb, and all the golden lamps of 
thefe lower heavens are extinguished, the fun 
of glory fhall mine forth with undiminished 
radiancy : and if the work of refcue and deli- 
verance ceafe, it will be only becaufe danger, 
and rnifery mail no longer be known, and the 
very laft of his enemies is compleatiy fubdued. 
Yet ftiil his victorious energy ihall continue the 
fame, and it fhall be as true of his power, as of 
his fidelity and grace, that Jefus Chriit is the 
fame yefterday, to-day, and for ever ^b ; . 

I have thus endeavoured to fhew you, what 
we are to under ft and by this phrafe of Chriit s 
being able to fave to the uttermoft. — — It im- 
plies the .danger and mifery of thofe to whom 

he is propofed as a Saviour •, and evidently 

expreffes a power of working out a compleat 
deliverance,-- — and the continuance of that 
power throughout ail generations. 

I shall conclude this head, and the prefent 
difcourie, with two very obvious reflections on 
what I have already delivered—- — How great 
is that falvation which the Lord Jefus Chrifthath 
wrought outjcr us ! — and how much are we all 
concerned very ferioufly to enquire after it ! 

1. How great is that falvation, which the Lord Jefus 

hath wrought out, 
We have been taken a furvey of many import 
tant branches of it ; and is it not molt evidently 
worthy of the title that the apoftle gives it, 
v hen he i tilco it, fo great falvation ;c) ? So great 

b. Heb, xiii. 8. c Heb, ii, 3. 



34 %he Ability of Christ, ser. i. 

indeed it is, that if we compare with it the mod 
illuftrious falvatibns which God wrought out 
for Ifrael of old, far from being eclipfed, it will 
rather be brightened by the companion ; and it 
will appear how juftly he might fey, I, even I 
* am the lord, and be fides me there is no faviour 
(d) ; none, that compared with me, defer ves 
that important name. — It was a great falvation, 
which God wrought out for Ifraei by Mc.fes, 
when he broke the power of Egypt by repeated 
blows ; when he led the chofen tribes through 
the red fea, and through the defert, guided by 
the pillar of cloud and fire, and fupplied by 
heavenly bread, and water ftreamtng from the 
flinty rock. But the falvation of Chrift is ten 
thoufand times more important. A pious 
Ifraelite under the rod of an Egyptian oppreilor 
might have rifen in holy contemplation and 
devotion, from the brick-kiln or the dungeon, 
to the prefence of God as his father, to a liberty 
of foul before him, which would have rendered 
his fervitude happier than Pharaoh's royalty : 
or fhoukl the fword of the tyrant have taken 
away his life, he would have found the stroke 
a bleffed releafe, to a ftate of compleat and 
eternal glory. But our fouls, in this ftate of 
apoftacy, were inflaved to Satan and to fin, we 
were incapable of fpiritual pleaiure, we were 
loft to all future hope : till jefus appe^.ed, 
and feafonably came to break the iron yoke of 
our fatal bondage ; to conduct us by his fptrit 
through all the perplexities and dangers or the 
wildernefs j and, in our way to the heavenly 



Srr. i. to Save to the Uttermost. 3^ 

Canaan, to feed us with the true bread from 
heaven, and to give us that water of life, of 
which if a man drink, he fhall thirft no more 
fe\ Have we not infinite reafon to fay, this 
deliverer is worthy of more glory than Mofes 
(f) ? It was a great falvation, that was wrought 
by Aaron, when the plague was broke out a- 
gainft Ifrael \ when it was running through their 
ranks, and laying them, in a moment, in the 
duft of death \ and that anointed prieft of the 
Lord, by divine inftigation, took a cenferin his 
hand, and placing himfelf between the dead and 
the living, put a flop to the fpreading deflruc- 
tion and made an acceptable atonement for the 
[fins of the people (g). But how much more 
prevalent is the atonement of Jefus, our great 
high-prieft, who arofe, and flood in the breach 
to turn away the wrath of God from us ; the 
.incenfe of whofe interceffion, net only like 
Aaron's, procures the reprieve of a mortal life, 
[but the favour of God and eternal happinefs ? 

« But neither Aaron nor Mofes, compleated 

the purpofes of the divine favour to Ifrael his 
people ; and it was in fome refpe£l a greater 
ialvation than either of thefe, that Jofhua 
effected, when he led them through Jordan, 
to the land of promife ; when he vanquished the 
kings of Canaan, and their armies ; when he 
flopped the fun in its career, to give them light 
to purfue their conquefl ; till at lad he divided 
the whole country to them, for an inheritance 
even the land flowing with milk and honey, 
gut this was only a type of the true Jcfhua^ 
?> John iv. 14, f. Heb. iii. 3. g. Numb. xvi. 47, 48' 



36 The Ability cf CHRIST, ?£R. I. 

who having himfelf conquered our enemies ^ 
alone, and trodden them down like grapes in 
the wine-prefs (h), caufes us to fhare in the 
fruit of his victory, by afligning us a fettlement 
in a better country, that is, a heavenly (i.) 

Were I to fpeak of the fucceeding falva- 

tions under their Judges, and their kings, I 
{hould, by mentioning a fucceflion of deliver- 
ances, intimate the comparative imperfection of 
each. In the land of their inheritance Ifrael 
finned againft the Lord •, and they were chaften- 
ed there, and oppreffed by one enemy after 
another j cill at length, the whole* nation of 
them was difpofleffed of it, and fell by the 
fword,"or were carried unto captivity. But 
it is the glory of Jefus, our great deliverer, to 
perfect his work ; conducting his people ta a 
world of everlafting fecurity, from which they 
can never be expelled, and in which they (hall 

never be molefted. Let then the rod ox 

Mofes, and the cenfer of Aaron,*and the fword 
of Jofhua, and the fceptre of David, bow to the 
fuperior glories of the crofs of Chrift, and be 
laid down in humble reverence at the J footftool 
of his throne. And let our fouls adore Jefus 
the Almighty Saviour, and be daily more folli- 
citous to fecure an intereft in that falvation, 
which he has introduced. Which leads me to 
add, 

2. How important is it, that we. all ferioufly enquire after 
this mighty Saviour ? 

You have all frequently heard of him. Let 
ccnfcience fay, whether you have diligently en* 
h. Ifa. ixiii. 3. i. Heb. xi, 16. 



EPv. I. to Savt to the Uttermost. 37 

uired into the credentials he brings, into the 
.tier he makes, into your own concern in fuch 
rcpofals as thefe ? I fear, many of you are 
onfcious to yourfelves, that you have neglected 
this great falvation. Unhappy creatures, how 
-ill you efcape, if you perfift in fuch a neglecl ! 

Yet (till, my friends, after all that is paft, 
ere will (if God continue our lives a few fab- 
aths longer,) be another opportunity of review* 
g thefe things a: large. I am more fully- 
lay before you the proof that Chrift is able 
fave to the uttermoft, the efficacy of his in- 
tercefficri for this bleffed purpofe, and the 
( larafter of thofe who may expetl this falva- 
)n from him. Let me befpeak the ferious 
tendon of all, and particularly of the younger 
- rt of my auditors. Let paffion, and bufmefs, 
d every worldly vanity be filent ; and let 
ei ery one that hath an ear, hear what the fpirit 
ftiil faying to the churches ,k , what it is the 
ry life of iinners to know, the duty of every 
,iul rninifier often to repeat, and the wit 
■m of the moft eftabliihed faints often to 
recoiled. 



SERMON II. 

The Proofs of CHRIST'S Ability to fave. 

Heb. vii. 25. 

Wherefore he is able atfo to fave them to the utter- 
' mgjf, that come unto God by him, feeing he ever 
liveth to make intercejjion for them. 

T- HOUGH the nature of man be fadly de- 
generated, and we are alienated from the lite 
of God through the Ignorance that is in us a); 
vet there are fome remainders of human and 
fecial afFeaion, which feem fo wrougnt into the 
conftitution of our foul, as to be as infeparable 
from us as our being. From hence the. mind 
feels itfelf delighted with the furvey of benevo- 
ent anions, no lefs neceifarily, than the eye 
whh the profped, or the ear with the mod 
harmonious mufic. Norcan .t e m^y a 
regard to our own intereft, which adds a reliih 
Such accounts ; for we delight taheax ^them, 
though the fcene be laid in the molt diftant age 
or country. Nay, fiftionB of this kind have a 
fecret charm, which it is not eafy to refift, and 
[he pleafure is real, where we know the occafion 
of it to be only imaginary. , » 
But fure it may be faid with the utmoft 
propriety, that as eye hath not feen, nor ate 

a, Eph. iv. S. 



S ER. II. The Proofs of CHR2STS Ability, ^fc\ 3 g 

by credible report heard, fa neither hath it 
entered into the heart of man to conceive (h) 
any other difplay of benevolence and goodnefs, 
even comparable to that which the gofpel pre- 
fents. All the celebrated exploits of real, or 
fictitious heroes, are not worth the mention, 
when compared with thofe of the great captain 
of our falvation. "Were we to contemplate it 
merely an idea, and to fet alide all the evidences 
of it, and all the remembrance of our own con- 
cern in it ; yet even then how delightful would 
the contemplation be ! behold the Son of God, 
a perfon to whom the mightieft potentate on 
earth, the moll exalted angel in heaven is but 
as a worm, diverting himfelf of celeftial glory, 
putting on him the form of a wretched mortal, 
and fubmitting to death in the molt horrible 
fhape ! for what ? to free fome fingle nation 
from civil bondage ? To humble fome proud 
tyrant of the earth ? to reftore an opprerTed 
people to liberty and peace ^ or to form uncul- 
tivated lavages to discipline, arts, and fecial 
life ? thefe are great things for a man to do 9 
thefe may render the name of a prince immortal \ 
I but the Lord of glory defcends for nobler pur- 
. , pofes ; to conquer and deftroy the tyrant of 
I hell, to refcue from his cruel fervitude an innu- 
a merable multitude of all nations, and people, 
i and kindreds, and tongues (c) to form their 
% [ groveling and degenerate minds to the moil 
ufefui knowledge, to the nobleft fentiments, 
I i and the moft exalted pleafures j to bring them 
jUs to the glorious liberty, and ineftimable privilege^ 
b i Cor. ii. 9. c. Rev. vii. 51* 
C2 



40 The Proofs of ser. ii. 

of the children of God ; and, finally, to fix 
them for ever in aftate of honour and happinefs, 
from whence they might look down with 
fupevior contempt on whatever earth can afford, 
moil grateful to our fenfes, moft arnufmg to 
our imaginations, moft tranfporting to our 
palhons. 

I have already told you, that all this, and 
much more than this, is comprehended in the 
phrafe of Chrift's being able to fave to the 
uttermoft. But is all this only a pleafing 
dream, an agreeable amufement of thought ? Is 
it only what our fancy may paint, and our 
hearts might wifh ? Is it a conje&ure built on 
dark probabilities , or precarious reports ? No ; 
through the divine goodnefs we can fay, that 
the proofs of this falvation are as convincing, as 
its defign is amiable, and its blefiings important. 
We proceed therefore, 

Secondly, To prove the truth we have ex- 
plained \ or to (hew you how evident it is, that 
the Lord Jefus Chrift is able thus to fave to 
the uttermoft, and to compleat the falvation of 
every believer, in every fucceeding age of the 
church and world. 

This is an evangelical myftery, which the * 
deepeft reach of human reafon would not have 
been able to difcover \ and which when difcove- 
ed, in this corrupt ftate, it is too unwilling to 
receive. Should I take the proof in its utmoft 
extent, it would be neceffary to divide it into 
two grand branches ; — firft, to (hew that the 
gofpel revelation is true ) and then, — that admit* 



ser. II. Christ's Ability to Save. 41 

tyng its truth, the almighty power of Chrift to 
fave follows, by a rnoft eafy and neceffary con- 
fequence. 

The former of thefe is fo extenfive a fubje£t, 
that I (hail chufe to handle it apart* :— And to, 
infift, at prefent, on the latter, i hope it will not 
be thought an unreafonable thing, when addref- 
fing to an auditory of profefled chriltians> now 
to take it for granted, that the gofpel is divine. 
Allowing it to be fo, it will indeed he an eafy 
thing to prove the Ability of Chrift to fave. 
And did I aim at nothing but abftract argu- 
ment, the proof might be unanfwerably dif- 
patched in a very few words 5 for as the whole 
tenor of the gofpel fuppofes it, fo a multitude 
of fcriptures direftly arfert it y and indeed the 
very words of the text may alone ferve rnoft 
firmly to eftablifh it. But, my brethren, I 
cannot be contented with your cold and lifelefs 
affent, to fo vital, and fo impotant a do&rine. 
I would prove it, not merely to your under- 
standings, but your conferences. To afreet 
thefe, various topics of argument are fuggefted 
in the word of truth. I will now endeavour 
to trace them. O that they might be attended 
with fuch demonstration of the fpirit, that every 
trembling awakened finner may be encouraged 
to venture his foul on this almighty Saviour ; 
and that every chriftian may be quickened to a 
more delightful acquiefcence in him, and being 
ftrong in faith, may give more abundant glory 
to God through Chrift ! 



* Serin, viii, ix, x. 

c 3 



42 The Proofs of Ser. 1U 

I would argue then, that our Lord Jefus 
Ghrift will evidently appear thus able to fave, 
if we confider, — that he was commiffioned by 
the Father for this great work;— that he appears, 
in his perfon and character, eminently fitted 
for it ; —that he has done and borne all that 
we can imagine neceflary to effect it that he 
has been approved by the Father, as having 
compleatly anfwered this glorious defign 
that, in confequence of all, he has made fuch 
overtures and . promifes, as imply a full power 
of accompliming it ; and that, as a convincing 
fpecimen of this power, he has already begun, 
and carried on the falvation of a multitude of 
fouls, whofe experience confirms this comfor- 
table truth. 

If thefe particulars be duly confidered in 
their connection with each other, I am perfuad- 
«d nothing more will be neceffary to prove, 
that Chrift is able to fave to the uttermoft ; nor 
could we fo much as wifh for clearer evidence 
of it, tho' it be the great bafis of our eternal 
hopes : Yet, becaufe it is fo, I hope you will 
ipardon my indulging, what might otherwiie 
ieem a redundancy of proof. 

I. Tut: Lord Jefus Chrift was " appointed by Cod to the 
work of a Saviour,'' and therefore is able to perform it 
to the uttermoft. 

"We are fure, r tnat the witnefs of God is 
according to truth (d) ; and this is his teftimony, 
that he hath given to us eternal life, |and this 
life is in his Son (e). As foon as ever the firft 

d. Rom. ii. 2. e, 1 John v. 11. 



ser. ii. Christ's Ability to Save. 43 

intimations of grace and mercy were given to 
finful creatures, their eyes were directed to him> 
as the great feed of the woman, who was to 
bruife the ferpent's head v f). In fucceeding 
ages, he is fpoken of as God's fervant, in whom 
he delighted \ as his elect, in whom his foul was 
well pleated and that particularly, while he 
confidered him as the perfon, who mould be 
given for a covenant to the people, and for a 
light to the Gentiles (g\ And, to fhew how 
great a ftrefs was to be laid on him, he is fome- 
times reprefented as made, by the immediate 
interpofition of God, the head- (tone of the 
corner, though he had been rejected by thofe, 
whole office and profeffion it was to build up 
the church (h). Nay, he is elfewhere defcribed 
as the foundation ftone which God himfelf had 
laid in Sion, elect, and precious, a fure and tried 
itone (i), ib that he that belie veth on him (hall 
not be confounded ' v k). When he was coming 
into the world, the name of Jefus was given 
him, on purpofe to (hew, that he was to fave 
his people from their Sins (1) : At his entrance 
on his public miniftry, he was declared, by a 
voice from heaven, to be God's beloved Son, in 
whom he is well pleafed (m) ; and thro' the 
whole courie of it, he was fealed by the fpirit 
in an extraordinary manner, as the perfon who 
was to feed hungry fouls with the meat which 
endureth to everiaiting life (n). 

Now furely, if we were capable of going no 

f. Gen. iii. 15. g. Ifa. xlii. 1, 6. h. Pfalm cxviii- 
22. i. Ha. xxvii. 16. k. 1 Pet. ii. 6. 1. Mat. i. 21. 
m. Mat. iii. 1 7. n. John vi. 27. - 

c 4 



44 Proofs of ser n, 

farther than this, we might reft here with great 
fatisfaclion. The wifdom of God cannot err. 
He is the fovereign Judge of the fitnefs of ends, 
and of means; and wherehis judgment is declar- 
ed, we may acquiefce in it without farther de- 
bate. ^ Since he appears to have fixed Chriit as 
a nail in a furc place (o;, we need not fear to 
hang upon him even the vail weight of our 
eternal interest. And we might chearfully 
have done it, even tho' God had concealed from 
us many of thofe glories of his perfon, which 
he has in fome meafure difcovered in fcripture. 
Neverthelefs, fo far as they are revealed, 'tis 
our happinefs to know, and our wifdom attenX 
tively to confider them *, which reminds me of 
adding. 

2. That, -fo far as we are capable of judging, the Lord 
Jefus Chrift appears, in his perfon and character, per- 
fectly fit to accomplish the work to which he is thus 
divinely appointed, and to fave his people even to the 
uttermoft. 

For the illuftration of this great argument, 
it will be proper for us humbly to view him, in 
his glorious appearance, under the title of the 
great Emmanuel, God with us (p) in our 
nature y and to regard him as God manifefted 
in human flefh v q). For the myfterious union 
of the divine and human natures in the perfon 
of our bleffed Redeemer, is that which renders 
him the fecure confidence of our fouls, an 
anchor both fure and ftedfaft. (r> 

Even in the human nature of the Lord Jefus 



' o. Ifa. xxii. 23, 24. p. Mat. i. 23. q. 1 Tire. lii. 16". 
r. Heb. vi. 10. 



see. it Christ's Ability to Save. 45 

Chrift, there is that which appears admirably 
fuited to the blefled defign of our redemption. 
The apoftle tells us, that forafmuch as the 
children, whom he undertook to conducl unto 
glory, are partakers of flefh ancf blood, he alfo 
himielf took part of the fame (s). He was in- 
deed bone of our bone, and flefh of our flefh 
and thus became capable of yielding that obedi-* 
ence to his Father's law, and making that atone- 
ment to his Juftice, which had otherwife been 
impoffible. It was necefTary, that he mould 
have fomewhat to offer, (t); he therefore affumed 
a mortal body, that he might offer it as a 
facrifice to God of a fweet-fmelling favour (u). 

And that it might be fo, it was abfolutely 
requifite, that he mould be an immaculate lamb. 
He was therefore fuch a victim, and fuch an 
high-prieft as became us, being perfectly holy, 
harmlefs, un defiled, and feparate from finners 
(w\ Nor was he only free from every degree 
of ftain and pollution, but by his own voluntary 
confent was made under a law, to which he 
was by no necefiity of nature fubjeft : that he 
might bring in a compleat and everiafting 
righteoufnel's (x>, by the knowledge of which 
(having borne their fins,, he might juftify many 
(y). 

Again, as he was perfectly fit for this great 
office with refpecfc to the holinefs and purity of 
his character > fo he was completely rurnilhed 
for it by the mod plentiful effufions of the holy 
fpirit, which was given to him without meafure 

% Heb, ii. 14. t. Heb. viii. 5. i:. Eph. v. 
Hcb. vii, tf. %, Dan- ix. 24. y. Iia. liii, 1 1, 

c 5 



46 The Proofs of ser. kh 

(z), and poured out upon him as the oil of glad- 
nefs, with which he was anointed (a) above any 
of thofe, who by divine grace were appointed 
to be the humble partners of his glories. It 
not only defended on him, and refided in him 5 
but from him it ftreameth forth, as water from 
a fountain. He was appointed to baptize his 
people with the Holy Ghoft and with fire (b), 
with a fpirit of wifdom, of zeal, and of holinefs, 
as well as with that miraculous energy which 
wrought in fo powerful a manner in the firft of 
his fervants, whom he fent forth to publifh his 
gofpel in the world. 

~ 3 But is this all that we can fay of gur 
Redeemer's fitnefs to anfwerthe glorious charac- 
ter under which he appeared, and to efFett. the 
important work he undertook ? that he v/as an 
excellent and holy man, and furnifhed with an 
uncommon degree, both of the miraculous gifts, 
and the fan&ifying graces of the Spirit ? No, 
chriftians, we are very thankful, that we have 
not fo learned Chrift (c). We have been taught 
to adore him, as over all, God blefled for ever 
(d) as the brightnefs of the father's glory, and 
the exprefs image of his perfon (e) ; as Jehovah 
our righteoufneis (f), who being in the form of 
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with 
God (g) ; and took upon himfelf no higher 
character than what he had a right to claim, 
when he fpake of himfelf, in his appearances to 
the faints under the old teftament, as the living 

z. John iii. 34. a. Pfal. xiv. 7. b> Mat. iii. i« 
c. Eph. iv. 20. d. Rom. ix. 5. e. Heb» i. 3. £ JA* 
xxzii. 6. g. PhU. ii. tf. 



er. ii. Christ's Ability to Save. 47 

and true God, as a perfon properly divine' 
Here, my brethren, here is the molt glorious 
evidence of his being able to fave to the utter- 
-moft. We mould dread the curfe pronounced 
on the man that maketh flefh his arm (h), 
mould we repofe all the truft and confidence 
of our fouls on created power and goodnefs, and 
wifdom and fidelity, appearing in a human, or 
we may add, even in an angelic form. ' But 
how chearful may we truft the merit of his 
atonement, and the efficacy of his grace, when 
we confider him as that glorious and wonderful 
per fon, in whom dwelleth all the fulnefs of the 
Godhead bodily (i;. Permit me on this occafion 
to refume iome of the heads of my former dif- 
courfe, and briefly to ihew.how they are illuftrat- 
cd by this important thought. 

Well may our fouls magnify the Lord, and 
t^ur fpirits rejoice in God cur Saviour (k) ; for 
furely in his name, we may courageoufly fet up 
our banners (i;, againft the various legions of 
furrounding enemies. Let conscience marfhal 
our fins in order before us, as a mighty army, 
in the moft dreadful array ; let it charge us 
home with the exceeding finfulnefs of each ; 
and with that dreadful eloquence, which is 
peculiar to idelf, aggravate each as a kind of 
infinite evil : there cannot be a malignity of any 
of them, or in all, greater than the efficacy o'f 
that iacred blood, which was poured forth to 
expiate them. Had it been merely the blood of 
a whole hecatomb of bulls or of goats, of inno- 



48 "The Proofs of SER. n> 

cent men, or even of holy angels, fliould they 
for fuch a purpofe have become incarnate, we 
might ftill perhaps have been ready to object. 
Where is the proportion between the offence 
on one hand, and the fatisfaction on the other ? 
but we fee it here, when we confider that the 
church of God is redeemed with his own blood 
(mV In that blood, we behold the honours of 
the divine law moft glorioufly difplayed, and 
the rights of his government fo ftrenuoufly 
aflerted, that we can eafily believe, that neither 
will be injured, by pardoning the moft aggrava- 
ted offences, with a view to fuch an atonement. 
Let Satan appear in every form of artifice, 
or of rage, pofieffed, as he is, of fuch formidable 
remainders of angelic knowledge, or angelic 
ftrength. We know, that by Chrift were all 
things created, whether vifible or invifible, not 
excepting thrones and dominions, principalities 
and powers (n). So that all the knowledge, and 
all the force, which this prince of hell could 
ever boaft, even in his primaeval ftate, when a 
fliining cherub in the regions of glory, was only 4 
a feeble reflection of the glories of his great 
original. His hand formed this crooked fer- 
pent (o) ; and how eafily can his hand crufh him, 
and enable even the weakeft of his fervants, to 
trample him under their feet (p) ? 

Storms of paffion are fometimes rifingj, and 
the floods of corrupt nature are often beating 
fiercely on the foul ; but he that ftills the foam- 
ing, and the rearing of the fea, can command 

m. A&s xx. 28. n. Col. i. 16. 0. Job xxvi. 13. 

p. Rom.xvi. 20, 



ser. ii. Christ's Ability to Save. 49 

this temped into a calm (q). He that created us 
at firft, can create us anew, can deliver us from 
every evil work, and preferve us to his heavenly- 
kingdom (r). 

Though difficulties, and dangers, and death 
itfelf lie in the way to our compleat falvation, 
a divine power can arm us againft all. While 
the fpirit of the Lord is with us, though deftitute 
of all other might, vaft mountaius ihall fpread 
themfelves into a plain before us (s). Deitruc- 
tion itfelf (hall hear his voice, and nature fiiall 
a fecond time rife out of its chaos, to wear a 
brighter face of order and of beauty. For God 
brings down to the grave, and raifes again (t). 
And finee Chrift is the Son of God by a gene- 
ration which none can fully declare (u), by a 
union which none can fully comprehend ; we 
may eafily believe, that thofc who lleep in the 
dull mail come forth at his call (w), and that 
nothing mall be wanting to the everlading 
iecurity, and complete happinefs of thofe whom 
he will condefcend to own as his people. 

You will not blame me, that I have infided 
thus copicufiy on the argument taken from the 
divinity of our redeemer's perfon, to prove the 
extent of his power to fave conficlering the 
drefs he himfelf lays upon it in, thofe memorable 
words, " I give unto my fheep eternal life, and 
they mail never perifli, neither fhall any pluck 
them out of my hand ; ; my Father, who gave 
them me, is greater than all, and none is able 

q. Pfal. Ixv. 7. r. 2 Tim. iv. 18. s. Zech. iv. 7. 
t. 1 Sam. ii. 6. »• Ifa. liii . 8. w. Dan. xii. 2. 



j© The Proofs of ser. it. \ 

to pluck them cut of my father's hand. I and < 
my father are one (x) his omnipotence is there- j 
fore mine j and in that my {heep are fecure. 

3. " The Lord Jefns Christ has done all that we can 
imagine neceiTary, in order to effect, and fecure our 
falvation and therefore we may conclude that he is 
able to fave to the uttermost. 

You have heard fcmething of the glories of 
the Redeemer's perfon ; and I truft you are not 
entirely strangers to the riches of his grace, I 
hope I may fay with the apostle, " You know 
the grace of our Lord Jefus Christ ; that though 
he was rich, yet for our fakes he became poor, 
that he through his poverty might be made 
rich (y). You know' that he emptied himfelf 
■of that original glory, which he wore in the 
heavenly world, and took upon him the form of 
a fervant, being found in fafhion as a man (z). 
You know that he fubmitted to the incon- 
4 veniencies and forrows of a mortal life, and at 
last, to the agonies of an accurfed death to a- 
tone the injured justice of God, to purchafe 
forfeited happinefs for his people, to procure 
for them the ianftifying influences of the fpirit, 
and to furnifh outthofe endearing confiderations, 
whereby their hearts are constrained, to holy j 
obedience, more effectually than by all the 
terrors of the Lord *, conftrained > perhaps, 
I may fay, more powerfully, as well as more 
fweetly, than by any arguments drawn merely 
from a view to their own interest, and the prof* 
peels of a future reward : for love is strong as 

x. John x. % 8 — 30. y. 2 Cor, viii. p. z. Phil, iu 
7. 8. 



! ser. n. Christ's Ability to Save, 5i. 

death (a), and in fome remarkable instances has 
proved much stronger. I might add, that hav- 
ing finifihed his glorious embafly on earth, and 
clofed the fcene of his labours and fufTerings, 
he at length returned into heaven, there to ap- 
pear in the prefence of God for us (b) ; to pre- 
sent before him the blood which he hied on the 
crofs, and in virtue of it to make continual inter- 
ceflion for us : ufing all his interest in the court 
of heaven, in favour of his unworthy fervants on 
earth. But this would ieajl me into another 
branch of my fubjetl, which I must refer ve to 
a future difcourfe. And I content myfelf, for 
the piefenr, with obferving, that though we 
could not by the light of unaffisted reafon have 
known all thefe things to be necefiary, yet now 
they are difcovered to us, we find them to be 
very fit and reafonable ; and cannot imagine 
/that any thing more is requifite, completely to 
•accompirih the work of a Saviour. But bleiTed 
be God, we have a still furer foundation for 
our confidence here ; for if any ihould urge, 
(what is indeed true, ) that we are not competent 
judges of the rights of God the fupreme 
governor, we may with great pleafure anfvver> 

4. That the Father hath declared his full approbation of 
wh?X Christ hath done, under the character of a 
Saviour," and thereby given us the most glorious proof, 
that he is indeed able to fave to the uttermost. 

His power to fave, as a mediator, is evidently 
founded on the efhcacyof that atonement, which 
he prefented to the Father for the fins of his 
people. We wonder not, if his difciples were 
under fome alarm, while he hung on the crofs, 
a. Cant. viii. 6. b. Heb. ix, 24. 



5 X Th: Proofs &f ser. u, 

and appearing to an eye of fenfe incapable of 
delivering himfelf ; while they heard his infult- 
ing enemies cry out, he faved others, himfelf he 
fave (c). We wonder not, that while his facred 
body flept in the dust of death, the faith of his 
fervants was weak, and their fears strong ; fo 
that they faid with a trembling uncertainty, 
" we trusted, this had been he that {hould have 
redeemed Ifrael (d). But God raifed Christ 
from the dead ; and with him he raifed our 
hope, and our confidence. Thus he declared 
him to be the Son of God with power (e) ; and 
Ihewed that the demands of his justice were 
fatisfled, fince otherwife his prifoner could not 
have been rdeafed. Nay, in order to declare 
it in the most convincing manner, God appoint- 
ed that his Son's refurreciion fhould be attend- 
ed with circumstances of peculiar honour ; an 
Angel defcendin^ from heaven to roll away the 
stone from the door of the iepulchre if } \ and 
two angels being employed to wait there, to 
give his dejected followers the first welcome 
notices of this great event (g-).. 

Nor must I by any means omit the mention 
of that very illustrious and important circum- 
stance, his alcenfion into heaven* in the prefence 
of his apostles ; a cloud, as a triumphant chariot, 
receiving him out of their fight ; and angels at 
the fame time defcending to affure them, that 
he who was then -riling to manfions of glory, 
fhould another day appear conspicuous to every 
eye, when he fhould return under the character 
of the univerfal judge (h),, 

c Mat, xxvii. 42. d. "Lukt xxiv, zt. e. Rem 4, 
f. Mat. xxviii. 2. g. Luke. Xxiv. j£ Sc fee. 1:. A&s i. e, it. 



ser. ii. Christ's Ability to Save. 53 

His being admitted to fit down at the right 
hand of the majesty on high (i), and fending 
down, uponhis interceffion there, the miraculous, 
endowments of the fpirit, on the apostles, at 
the day of Pentecost, are incontestable and 
everlasting evidences of the divine acceptance, 
and therefore of his laving power. And furely 
we cannot entertain a doubt of it, when we 
confider, that he is gone into Heaven, Angels, 
and authorities, and powers, being made fubjedt 
to him k) ; and is there constituted by the 
pefignation of the father, head over all things 
to the Church (1). 

5. I MrGHX farther argue the ability of Christ to fave, 
" from the gracious promifes of falvation which he has 
made, either in his own perfon, or by thofe who had a 
a commiffion from him." 

You know thofe important and encouraging 
paflages fo well, that it will not be needful for 
me largely to infill upon them. You know, 
how plainly they exprefs an extent of grace, 
reaching even to the moft enormous finners \ 
and therefore, how clearly they imply a 
correfpondent extent of power. He invited all 
that labour and are heavy laden to come to 
him ; and promifed on their application to him, 
that he would give them reft (m). He pro- 
claimed, in a numerous afiembly, on a day of 
day of public feftivity, that every thirfty ioul 
fliould be molt cordially welcome to come unto 
turn, and drink (n) and allures his hearers elfe- 
where, that he will by no means call out any 

. i. Heb. i. 3. k. 1 Pet. iii. 22. 1. Eph, i. 22. 

m. Mat, xi. 28. n. John vii. 37. 



54 The Proofs of ser. in 

who fhould come (o). The apoftle Peter 
declares, that by him all that believe are juftified 
from all things, from which they could not be 
juftified by the lawof Mofes (p), and confequSpt- 
ly not by the law of innocence, which left no 
room for repentance. And Su Paul had his 
authority to allure us, not only that Chrift came 
into the world to fave finners, of whom him fell 
was chief ; but he adds, that it was for this very 
caufe that he obtained mercy, that in him firft, 
(or rather, in him as the chief) Chrift might 
ihew forth all long-fuffcring, for a pattern to fuch 

as mould hereafter believe (q).* Now, let 

me intreat you to confider what I have already 
faid, of the dignity of his perfon, the glory of 
his kingdom, and the fanctity of his character ; 
and then fay, whether infidelity itfelf can fuggeft 
fo unworthy a thought as this, that Jefus, the 
Son of God, the Lord of glory, the faithful and 
true witnefs, fhould ever mock and delude 
wretched mortals, by the offers of a falvation, 
which neverthelefs he knows he is not able to 
be (low ? that be far from thee, O gracious Lord ! 
and be that bafe and abfurd fufpicion as far from 
us ! But to add no more on this head, 

6. " We may very finely and comfortably argue, from the 
imtances, in which the faviag power of Chrift hath 
already been difplayed,* ' that he is able to lave to the 
iTttermoft. 

There is nothing, that ftrikes the mind of a 
wife man, like facl:. Experiments do fometimes 
ftrengthen our afTent to thofe propofitions, 
which have been demonftrated to us, even in 

o, John vi, 37. p. Acls xiii. 30. q. 1 Tim. i. 15, 16. 



ser. Tr. Christ's Jollity to Save. 55 

Methods of mathematical proof; at leafi they 
imprel's the mind with a peculiar kind of con* 
viftion, which nothing elfe is capable of giving. 
Now, blefied be God, there is a cloud of wit- 
: nefies to atteft this facred truths that Chrift has 
; begun, and carried on the falvation of a multi- 
tude of fouls. 

■ Let us look back to the hiftory of former 
ages, and fee how many, who were once funk 

ji into the loweft degeneracy, have beeil renewed 
to a divine life by the gojpel of Chrift. What 
multitudes, who were once even the reproach 

: of our nature, have been wafhed and fanclified, 
and juftified, in the name of the Lord Jefus, 

1 and by the fpirit communicated from him (r). 

i Reflect on the former, and the latter conquefts 
of divine grace ; and you will fee, that even the 
chief of finners have not been beyono! its reach* 
And I perfuade myfelf, the fubjecl: will ap- 
pear to be farther confirmed by the experience 

i of fome who hear me this day. Are there not 

1 many of you, my friends, who find a moll happy 
alteration in yourfelves, when compared with 
what you once were ? Are there not many, 
whofe eyes, once fpiritualiy blind, have been 
opened, and their deaf ears unftopped ? May I 
not fay to you* my brethren, as Paul to the 
Ephefians, you hath he quickened who were 
dead in trefpaftes and fins (s). for that it was 
indeed his work, that it was wrought by his 
gofpel, and by his fpirit, you are as fure, as that 
it has been wrought at all. 



r. i Cor. vi. i j. s. Eph-. ii. r. 



§6 The Praofs of srr. ir 

Nay, to advance yet farther in this argument, 
let faith unveil the eye of the foul, and help it 
to look forward to a world invifible to fenfe. 
View it in the light thrown upon it by fcripture, 
of whole divine authority you are fo abundantly 
allured ; and what a delightful fpeclacle will 
open itfelf there ! What mining forms of 
holmefs, and of joy ! What an innumerable 
triumphant multitude of all nations, and kind- 
reds, and people, and tongues (t) ! How loud 
do their praifes found! With what unutterable 
rapture do their fouls overflow, too big to be 
exprefTed, even by the language of heaven ! 
Now, if it be alked, as it once was, who are 
thefe, that are cloathed in white robes ? And 
from whence do they come ? The anfwer may 
be given as there, they are come out of great 
tribulation : they were once the inhabitants of 
earth, heirs to the infirmities and forrows of this 
mortal ftate-, and the moll excellent of them, even 
they who facrifice their lives in the defence 
of the truth, and fealed it with their own blood, 
even they have warned their robes, and made 
them white in the blood of the lamb (u). They 
owe it to his atonement, and righteoufnefs that 
they are now holy and glorious creatures ; and 
each of them will be an everlafting monument 
vi his power , as well as of his grace. And iure- 
ly when we view them in the joys and glories 
of the intermediate ftate, we may well aiTure 
ourfelves, that he who has faved them thus far, 
is able to lave to the uttermoit ! And we can no 
more doubt, whether he can raife their bodies 
t. Rev. vli. q. u, Rev. yii, 13, 1 j. 



i ssr. n. Christ's Ability to Save. 57 

from the tomb, than we could have doubted , 
t whether he could untie the linen bands in 
, which Lazarus was held, when we had feen him 
, iocfmg the bands of death, and animating his 
corpfe after it had begun to putrify (w). 

Nothing more can be requifite to prove the 
truth. I perfuade myfelf, you are convinced, 
that Chrift is able to fave to the uttermoft ; and 
I hope, you feel your hearts impreffedj as well 
as your judgments fatisfied. But I cannot dif- 
mifs die fubject, till I have added a few reflec- 
tions upon it. 

Now I fhall omitfome, which might naturally 
: arife from what I have already laid, becaufe they 
I will occur afterwards with greater advantage ; 
and fhail content myfelf with fuggefting thefe 
: two, which I recommended to your farther 
consideration. — How great is the danger ofthofe, 
that reject and affront this almighty Saviour !— 
and how groundiefs are the fears of thofe, that 
have ventured their fouls upon him ! 

I. Hew great is the danger and mifery of thofe, that 
i reject and affront fuch an almighty .S aviourl 

If he is able to fave, he is alio able to deftroy ; 
to break his enemies with a rod of iron, and to 
daih them in pieces like a potter's veflel (x). 
Alas, Tinners, though your ingratitude be fo 
foul, though your treatment of Chrift be fo 
o'dious, as to move the aftonifhment, as well as 
the indignation, of all that view him and you, 
in a juft, that is, in a fcripture light; yet my 
heart is both grieved and terrified for ycu, when 
John xi. 43, 44. x. Pf?J. ii, 9. 



5B The Proofs of ser. 11 

I think, what the end of your oppofition to him 
will be. Unhnppy creatures ! What will you 
do, when he riles up ? And when he judges, 
what will you anfwer him (y) ? When he pro- 
ceeds to execute his fenterice, how will you 
efcape, or refill, or endure it ? Were it merely 
the indignation of a man like yourfelves, you 
might either oppofe it, or bear it. But, alas, 
how infupportable will be the vengeance of an 
almighty arm ! If it could alone bring falvation, 
it will alone be able to bring calamity and ruin. 
Yet were auxiliary force neceflary, all the legions 
of heaven would appear armed again it you, 
under the command of Jefus their Lord. If 
you do indeed believe your bibles, I wonder that 
you do not tremble, when you read, or hear, of 
that dreadful day, in which you are to be lb inti- 
mately concerned ; when 'tis exprefsly &id, that 
the moft infolent of his enemies ihall flee before 
him in wild and helplefs confternation ; when 
the kings of the earth, and the great men, and 
the rich men, and the chief captains, and the 
mighty men ; as well as others of meaner rank, 
ihall hide themfelves in the dens, and in the 
rocks" of the mountains, and lhall fay to the 
mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us 
from the face of him that fitteth on the 
throne, and frpni the wrath of the Lamb : 
for the great day of his wrath is come ; and 
who fhall be able to ftand (z)? What a 
dreadful emphafis is there in thefe words ! How 
plainly do they intimate, that they would prefer 
the crufh of a mountain to the more infupport- 

v. Job xxxi. 14. z. Rev, vi,. i5, — 17, 



ser. ii. Christ's Ability to Save. 59 

able weight of his wrath 5 and that they will 
have more hope of moving rocks by their intrea- 
ties, than of prevailing on their then inflexible 

Judge ? And will your hearts endure, or your 
ands be ftrong, when the heavens {hall depart 
as a fcroll, and mountains and iflands mall be 

removed- Were the lead of the fervants of 

Chrift this day addrefling himfelf to an aflembly 
of the greateft princes and potentates on earth, 
he might be bold to fay in the name of this 
king of glory, be wife now therefore, O ye 
kings ; be inftru&ed, ye judges of the earth : 
ferve the Lord with humble fear, and rejoice in 
your own dignity, or in the offers of his grace, 
with trembling : kifs the Son of God, in token 
of your ready fubmiflion to his government, left 
he be angry, and you perifh from the way in a 
moment, when his wrath is kindled againft you. 
And this faithful and neceflary warning would 
I now addrefs to you, adding, as the Pfalmift 
doth, blefled are all they, that put their truft in 
him (a) ; which leads us to the other reflection, 

2. How unreasonable are the fears ofthofe, that have 
ventured their fouls upon Chrift ! 

Too frequently does the humble chriftian, in 
the view of all his difficulties, his dangers, and 
his enemies, fecretly borrow the word of David 
in his melancholy frame, and fay, I (hall one 
day perifh by their hand(b): But as the anointing 
oil of God was upon him, he preferved him in 
all, and made him victorious over all : And it 
was an emblem of the victory of the chriftian, 

a, Pfal. ii. 10 -12. b, 1 Sam. xxvii. i> 



Co The Proofs of ser. ir B 

under the conduft of Chrift, and the anointings 
of his fpirit. It is very diftionourable to Chriit, 
as well as very uncomfortable to ourfelves, to be 
continually terrified and alarmed, while under 
the care of fuch a helper, who declares himfel; 
the Lord mighty to fave ; and the devil gains < 
great advantage againft the foul, by throwing 
it into fuch panic terrors : The fuccours of 
reafon are then betrayed, and the nobler relie: 
of faith in feme meafure intercepted. Anc 
therefore let the particulars I have now beer 
illuftrating be often recollected, and frequently 
plead them with your own hearts. u Oh my 
foul, is there any thing fo peculiar in thy cafe 
that he who has faved fo many mil ions cannot 
fave thee ? Has Satan acquired any new power 
iince Jefus conquered him on the crofs ? or can. 
I imagine, that hell {hall now begin to triumph 
over heaven, and the almighty ihepherd be at 
length repulfed by thefe infernal wolves, fo as 
to ftand by, a helplefs fpectator, while they are 
deftroying his iheep ? How blafphemous, and 
how deteitable a thought ! My foul, thou art 
in the hands of Chrilt ; and by a new aft of 
faith, I do this moment commit thee to him, as 
able to fave to the utter moft, thofe that come 
unto God by him." Nor is that additional 
encouragement light and inconfiderable, which 
may be derived from the concluding words, 
feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for 
them. But this great argument will be hand- 
led at large in the following difcourfe c 



SERMON III, 



Christ's Saving Power argued from hx§ 
Interceflion. 



Heb. vii. 25. 

Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the utter% 
moji that come unto God by him> feeing he ever, 
liveth to make inter cejfion for them* 

A s we have already endeavoured both tp open^ 
and to confirm this great truth, that Chrift is* 
able to fave to the uttermoft, we are now, 

Thirply, toconfider the'particular argument 
which the apoftle fuggefts in proof of it,' in the 
words of the text, which is drawn from his evei? 
living to make intercei|ion for his people, 

In handling this, it will be evidently proper^ 
firft, to ftate the doctrine of Chrift's interceflion 1 
and then,4:o confider, howit tends to demonftrate 
the extent of his faving power. What little 
time may remain, when thefe are difpatched* 
will be employed as ufual in a few reflections. 

I. I shall endeavour to state t\ie. fcripture Doctrine; 
of Christ's Interceflion. 

Now the fubftance of this doctrine appears tq 
ree to be this. Chrift's interceflion for his 

people, in his pleading for them in heaven,- « 

under the character of their great high-prieft ; 
which he always does virtually, by appearing 
before God, in that body in which he fuflered 5 
:tnd which he always intends to prefent before 
D ' "!/ 



S£ 'CHRIST'S Saving Power, se£. at, 

him in this view,- in favour of each of his 

people;- and this interceffion, whether it ever 

be, or be not, vocal,- is always conducted 

in a manner becoming the dignity of our exalted 
Redeemer,— —-and is abundantly effectual for 
the fecurity, acceptance, and final happinefs of 
all his fervants. 

Permit me a little rhore diftinftly to open 
fcach of thefe particulars ; and the rather, as 
fome of them mull be acknowledged to have 
their difficulties ; and as it is fit we fbould fettle 
fome rational and digefted notions of a doctrine, 
t>f fuch daily ufe and fuch great importance. 

x. "The word, which is here made ufe of to expr-fs 
Chrift's interceffion, does properly lignifiy pleading." 

It is evident from the ufe of it in other 
Greek writers, and efpecially thole of the New 
Teftament, that it imports " an earneft addreis 
to one perfon on account of another: 7 ' And 
according to the participle with which it is 
joined, it may exprefs the action of a friend, or 
of an enemy ; as a perfon may in our own 
language be faid to plead for, or againft another. 
Thus on the one hand, Elijah is faid to have 
made interceffion to God againft Ifrael (a) ; and 
the Jews to have dealt* or (as the original word 
is,) to have, interceded with Feftus, that Paul 
might be put to death (b). On the other hand/ 
Paul exhorts Timothy, that interceffion be made 
for all men (c) \ and elfe where fpeaks of the 
■Spirit's helping our infirmities in prayer, and fo 
in effect making interceffion for us (d), i. e-. 

a. Rom. xi. 2. b. Ads xxv. 24. c. 1. Tixn. ii. i» 



sr. a. i it. argued from his Inter cejjion* 6^ 
as he renders our prayers, both as to the matter,, 
and manner of them, agreeable to the will o£"' 
God. In this fenfe alfo, in the fame chapter^ 
as well as. in the text, it is laid, that Chrift being 
nfen maketh interceffion for us, i. e, he pleads 
our caufe with the Father (e). &>nd St. John 
likewife encourages us with this thought \ If 
any man fin, (as there is not a juft man upon 
earth, who does not,) we have an advocate with 
the Father, Jems Chrift the righteous \ who is 
the propitiation for our fins, (f), by that expia- 
tory facrihee, on which he pleads \ in fweet 
harmony with thofe memorable words of Ifaiah 
(g), He poured put his foul unto death, and iu, 
confequence of that, he made interceffion for 
the tranfgreffors. : To w hich words, it is rirobable^ 
that Philo may refer, when, fpeaking of the 
logos, or word, he fays among; many other, 
furprifing things, ( i he is an intercenor for mor« 
ta! man with the immortal God." You fee 
then, that Chrift's intercefTion fignifies his; 
pleading the caufe of his people with the father^ 
and therefore muft import a part of his work as. 
mediator; and in its fulled extent comprehends 
his office, both as. an advocate in the court, and 
aPrieft in the temple. But 1 add, 

2. That in this connection, " it is evidently fooken of as 
a branch of his Prieftly ofnee/' typified by the mmistrationj 
of Aaron and his Sons, in the Jewhli Taberna<:le. 

This, as I formerly (hewed you*-, the context 
very plainly proves j under the law there were 
many priefts, &c. but this man, becaufe he con- 

c. Rom. viii. 34. f. 1 John ii. 1, 2. g. liii, j?» 
$ See S.eni}, 1. page 5. 



64 GERlST's Saving Power, ser. ir n 

tinued ever, hath an unchangeable Priefthood ; 
therefore he is able alfo to fave, &c. and then 
It immediately follows, for fuch an high-prieii 
became us* And a very few verles after, the 
^poftle bbferves, that the fum of what he had 
here fpoken was this; we have fuch an high 
prieft who is fet on the right hand of the throne 
bf the majefty in the heavens (h). So that 
feeing Chrift's interceffion in our text is fo evi- 
dently a facerdotal or prieftly acl:, we may, no 
jdoubtj be affifted in our conceptions of it, 
by confidering that of the Jewifh Priefts, to 
which it is compared. Now you know, it Was 
their office^ to prefent ihetr prayers to God in 
the name of the people*, both in their daily, and 
their yearly miniftration. In their daily mini- 
ftrationy they went into the holy place, to burn 
incenfe before the Lord on the golden Altar ; 
'and this incenfe|is often referred to in Scripture, 
as an emblem of the acceptable prayers of pious 
worlhippers (i). And it is obfervable, that at 
Vhe very time when the Prieft was thus employ- 
ed, the people flood praying without (k) \ and 
no doubt* it was a part of his duty to concur in 
the devotions, which in their name he prefented 
before God. But this interceffion was moft 
Jolemrily made once a year, i. e. or\ the great 
day of atonement, when the High Prieft enter- 
ed into the moft holy place, with the blood of 
the viftims, the incenfe at the fame time fum- 
ing, with a grateful odour, before the mercy - 
teat (1); This was the grand acl: of interceffion 

h. Heb. viii. I. i. Pfalm cxli. 2. Rev. viii. 4. k, Luke 
It, to-. 1. Lev. xvL 12, 16* 



see.. Uh argiicdfXcm Us IrJer^Jfm. _ gf| 

by attending* to which, we may be more parti- 
cularly informed of the nature of that, which, 
Chrift as our High Prieft is making- in our 
favour : and we particularly learn, 

3. That " the appearance of Christ above, in that body 

in which he f uttered on earth, is virtually a continual 

interceflion with the Father." 

We are told, that the High-Prieft carried 
the blood of the burnt-offering, and of the fin- 
offering, into the moft holy place, and fprinkled 
it before the Lord there j and by this action he 
is faid to make the atonement, the other facri- 
ficial circumftances being only preparatory to 
this (m). And thus our Lord Jefus Chrift ha$ 
taken mtq heaven the human body, in which he 
bare our fins on the accurfed tree (n) - 9 and ap- 
pearing thus in the divine prefence, he does 
thereby prefent his own blood before the mercy 
feat •, As the apoftle expreffeth it, in a molt 
evident allufion, to the preceeding paffage in 
the Mofaic inftitution (o), not with the blood of 
goats and calye§, which were the facrifices ap- 
pointed on the day of expiation, but by hi§ own 
blood, he hath entered into the holy place,' hav- 
ing obtained eternal redemption for us : and by 
this one offering he hath perfected for ever them 
that are fan&ifyed (p) ; io that nothing farther 
Ihouid be requiiite, for the complete expiation 
of their guilt. And it is accordingly declared, 
that after he had offered one facrifice for fin, 
he for ever fat down at the right hand of God (q)* 
Now this appearance of Chrift in heaven, 

m. Lev. xvi. 14—19. n. 1 Pet. ii. 24, o. Heb« ix, 13, 
p, Heb. x. 14. q. Ileb. x. 12, 



%6 CHRIST'S Saving Power, 3KR. iri» 

which exprefled by his {landing in the midft of 
the throne, as a lamb that had been ilain (r)j 
may properly be called a virtual interceflicn. 
There is a language in that circumftance, more 
forcible than in any words that we can imagine. 
.This is happily iiluftrated by the pious Mr 
Flavel *, by the ftory of Amyntas and iEfchylas, 
as jElian relates it. JEfchylus was condemned 
to death by the Athenians, and was juft going 
to be led to execution. His brother Amyntas 
had fignalized himfelf {in the fervice of his 
country ; and on the day of a mod illuftrious 
victory, in a great meafure obtained by his 
means, had loft his hand. He came into the 
court juft as his brother was condemned, and 
'without faying any thing,, drew the ftump of 
iiis arm from under his garment, and held it 
up in their fight ; and the hiftorian tells us, 
<c that when the judges faw this mark of his 
fufferings, they remembered what he had done, 
and difcharged his brother, though he had for- 
feited his life f." Thus does Chrift, our dear 
*eider brother, filently, but powerfully, plead for 
our forfeited lives : and fuch is the happy con- 
fequence. His Father looks on the marks of his 
fufferings, and remembers what he has done ; 
and in this feftfe his blood is continually fpeak- 
ing better things than the blood of Abel (s). 
We have an advocate with the father, who is 
alfo the propitiation for our fins (t). 

r. Rev. v. 6. 

* FlavePs Fountain of Life, p. 142. 
f JElto- Var. Hift. v. 19. 

s, Heb. xik 24, t. 1 John 11. r, 1, 



sktt. hi. avguea Jvg m his Inter cc[fiG?i- &j 

4. " Our Lord always intends, that his appearance be- 
fore his Father in heaven fliould be interpreted as a 
plea for his people.'* 

He does not only perform an aflion which 
may be fo underftood ; but it is his habitual and 
conftant defire and intention, that it may be 
confidered in that view; He entered into hea- 
ven, not merely that he might in his glorious 
human nature be honjgred with exalted dig- 
nity, and be delightecfwith that fulnefs of joy 
which is in the prefence of God there ; but 
that as their forerunner, he might prepare a 
place for them (u). Still he remembers, that 
he is made head over all things to his church, 
which is his body (w), and which with conftant 
tendernefs he nouriffieth and cheriiheth (x). 
This, is the language of his companionate heart : 
" Behold me, oh my heavenly Father, behold 
me in a form thus different from that, in which 
I originally was. Behold me, now dwelling in 
human fiefh; an'd remember where this flefh 
was afl limed ; and remember how it wa$ once 
treated. When thou faidft, facrifice ahd offer- 
ing I will not — I faid, Lo, I come (y) ; I de- 
lighted then to do thy will, and I ftill delight to 
recollecl that I did it. Thou waft a witnefs to 
that awful fcene ; nor c&nft thou forget this 
blood, that was once offered to thee on tile 
crofs, to after t the honours of thy law> and to 
appeafe the terrors of thy wrath. Thou didft 
once own it, as an offering of a fweet-fmelling 
favour (z) $ and wilt thou not ftill own it ? 1 

u. Heb. vi. 20. w. Eph. i. Z2 t 23. x. Eph. v/«p. 
Yi Heb, x. 5, 7. z. Eph. v. % 



63 CliMlST's Saving Poivsr, SEP,, in, 



have performed my part of the covenant ; and 
I chearfully put in my claim to the performance 
of thy part, in favour of thofe for whom I de- 
scended and died. " Father, I will, that thofe 
whom thou haft given me, be with me where I 
am" (a) ; and that nothing be wanting to begin, 
to carry on, and to complete the falvation of 
every one of them." Thus does our Lord ever* 
now own his people ^ the pre fence of his Fa- 
ther, and of his holy angels ; and in the admi- 
niitration of his Mediatorial kingdom, he does 
all things for the elect's fake, for whom he once 
endured all. 

5. This gracious intention and care of Chrift refpecls, not 
only his church in general, but " every particular be- 
liever in all the variety of his perional circumftances.'' 

When* the Jewifh high-prieft flood before the 
Lord, he bore on his Tieart the names of the 
twelve tribes of Ifrael (b) : but Chrift our great 
high-prieit bears on his heart, not only the 
names of thfc various nations, and tribes, and 
families of his people, but the name of every 
individual perfon arnongft them, even of all the 
children of God who are fcattered abroad (c). 
So that " he is mindful of me," may every 
humble believer fay, " and each of my con- 
cerns, as if I were the only happy creature under 
his care. Thus, as the good Shepherd, he is 
faid to know all his fheep by their names (d) j 
and is deicribed as accommodating himfelf with 
a proper care to the neceffities of each, as 
f< ieeking that which was loft, and bringing 

a. John xvii. 24. b. Exocl. xxviii. 25. *C, John %i* 
52. d. John x. 3, 14, 



Ser. hi. ai'gucd from his Interctfjhii. 69 

again that which was driven away, and binding 
r tip that which was broken, and ftrengthenjng 
I' that which was Tick ,e) ; as gathering the lambs 
in hisbofom, and gently leading thofe that are 
with young (f)." His eye is ft ill upon each of 
them, and his heart is tenderly affe£led toward 
each. And while, as a Mediator he prefents the 
prayers of each unto the Father, he intermingles 
his own intercefHon, not only that an anfwer of 
peace may be returned to fchem$ but that other 
fcteceflary bleffiiigs may be given in, and that 
they may be preserved from danger by them 
unfeen : As in the days of his Flefh, he forefaw 
the trials of Peter and his brethren, and prayed 
for them that their faith might not fail (g) ; 
when they were under no apprehenfions for 
themfelves. 

• ..... . V 

6. " The Scripture dees not exprefsly determine, Whether 
there be, or be not fome verbal addrefs of Christ to the 
Father, in favour of his people." 

Some very eminent divines have indeed po- 
sitively concluded, that there is none *• But I 
cannot think that fo certain, as they have fup- 
pofed it, 'Tis true, we know but very little ot 
the heavenly world, of the methods of converfe* 
or worihip there. We know not in what ac- 
cents its blefled inhabitants addrefs their long? 
of praife to God, or cry to each other, faying, 
Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty (h). But 
this we afFuredly know, that our Redeemer is 

e, Ezek. xxxiv, 16. f, Ifa. xh 11. g, Luke xxir, 32, 
rhe great Dr Owen exprefsly asserts, he interceedeth 
bot ora41y in heaven at all, Owen on the Spirit, p, 445, 
So Scott's fihriftian Life, Vol, 3, p, 763, and many eiher s » 
h Ifa, vi; 3-, Rev, iv, 8, 



/O Christ's Saving Power, tff< 

gone into heaven in his human body, though 
now, in an admirable and inconceivable manner, 
refined and beautified, invigorated and adorned* 
And we know, that fince his entrance into his 
glory, he has not only appeared in a viiible form 
to Tome of his fervants on earth, but fpoken to 
them with an audible voice. And mine we fay* 
that he ftill dwells in everlafting filen^e above; 
or that, if he f peaks, it is only the language of 
authority to his celeftial fubjecls ? Is it abso- 
lutely certain that his facred voice is never em- 
ployed in any of the triumphant fongs of hea- 
ven ; or that it is never addrefled to his Father 
in the language of prayer ? On earth, he impor- 
tunately alked thofe bleffings for his people, 
which he knew, that his Father had, by the co- 
venant of redemption, e^prefsly ftipulated to 
be flow : And when he was returning to the re- 
gions of glory, he fa-id, I will pray the father* 
and he lhall give you" another Comforter" (i). 
Nor can we fay, there is any thing in a vocal, 
more than in a mental prayer, unworthy the 
character of the Son of God, and the Lord of all ? 

We cannot indeed imagine, that our Lord is 
always thus employed. We know he has other 
bufmefs in the world of glory, with which a 
continued addrefs to the Father would be in- 
cbnfiftent. But how are we confident; that 
nothing of this kind pa^FecL when he fir ft at- 
tended to the right hand of the Majefty on 
high ; or that fuch an intercemon has never 
fince been repeated ? I would ftand at the re- 



; sER ill* argued from his Inter 'cpjjton. 71 

iii moteft diftance from a bold intrunon into thefe 
unfecn tilings j but I mult prefume fo far as 
to fay, that I fee no abfurdity in granting, that 
< fome'fcripture pafiages we have juft referred to, 
|i may be taken in a more literal fenfe, than many 
« have allowed. Nor can I imagine, that the 
fuppofed filence of the high-prieft, when he en- 
; tered into the molt holy place, can have much 
I weight in the prefent queition # : For not now 
■ to urge, how poffible it is, that he might then 
ufe fome words of prayer, though no form be 
prefcribed. for this, or any other peculiar fer- 
vice of the day; 'tis certain, that he was then 
: alone in the divine prefence : Whereas Jefus, 
the great high-prieft of our profeffion, is fur- 
rounded with an innumerable company of an- 
gels, and with the fpirits of juft men made per~ 
iect (k). But after all, I will aflert nothing 
pofifively here ; and to prevent the miftake of 
what I have already laid, I think it proper to 
add, 

7. That in whatever manner this interceffion may be 
carried on, we may depend upon it, that is ( ' always 
congruous to that dignity and authority, in which our 
Lord appears in the world above." - 

When our Redeemer was on earth in the 
days of his humiliation, he poured out ftrong 
cryings and tears (1) ; when addreffing his Fa- 
ther, he fell on his knees, and fometimes pro- 
j ftrated himfelf on his Face (m) : But now for- 
! row and abafement are no more. He is defcribed 
I a s fitting at the right hand of God (n) ; and to 

* Chrift the Mediator, p. 44. 

k Heb xii. 22, 23. 1 Heb. v. 7. m See Luke 

41. Mat. xxvi. 3$, n Mark xvi. 15?. 



72 CHRIST'S Saving Facer, ser. in. 

raife the idea, is reprefented by the prophet as 
a Prieft on his throne v o . And the 5 language 
of his intercefllon is princely too ; " Father, I 
will, that thofe whom thou halt given me, be 
with me where I am" (p.) 

And I mult farther add, that his addreffes tQ 
the Father, in favour of his people, are alfo 

perfectly confiftent with his adminiftration of 
the affairs of his mediatorial kingdom." All 
power is given to him both in heaven and on 
earth (q) ; an4 God hath highly exalted him* 
and given him a name above every name (r , 
having faid unto him, " Sit thou at my right 
hand, till I make thine enemies thy footftbol (s). 
He is, as it were, the grand almoner of heaven, 
by whom the divine bounties are difpenfed. In 
his hand are the ways, the hopes, the lives of 
all ; and even the keys of death, and of the un- 
feen world (t). We are not therefore to think 
of any interceflion inconfiftent with this, if we 
would make our fcheme agreeable to fcripture, 
©r fcripture confiftent with itfelf. I add once 
more, 

8. The Interceffion of our bleiTed Redeemer "is always 
effectual, for the vindication, the acceptance, and the 
final happinefs of his people. 

He is, as the apoftle ftiles him, God's dear 
Son (u). And if on earth he could confidently 
fay, Father, I know that thou heareft me al- 
ways • w% we may then well allure purfelves, 
that he cannot fail of fuccefs, when pleading iri 

o Zech.vi. 13, p John xvii, 24, q Mat, xxviii, 18, 
r Phil, ii, 9, . s Pfal, cx, 1, t Rev, i, 18, u Col, 
*v J3> John xi, 42, 



ser. in. argued from his Interceflion. 73 

the court of heaven ; efpecially when afking 
thofe things, which he has purchafed for his 
people by his own blood, and which his heaven- 
ly Father, by promife, ftands engaged to beftow. 

By this interceflion " the characters of his 
fervants are vindicated." Gbfei ve how the apo- 
ftle triumphs in the patronage of fuch an ad- 
vocate, even under the humbieft fenfe of his own 
imperfections, and while joyfully ready to re- 
nounce every appearance of confidence in him- 
felf. Who fays he, fhall lay any thing to the 
charge of God's elect ? It is God that juftifieth ; 
Who is he that condemneth ? It is Chrift that 
died, yea, rather that is rifen again, who alfo 
maketh interceflion for us (x). Tho' Satan 
ftand at our right hand to accufe us (y), tho ? 
that malignant fpirit aggravate every mifcar- 
riage, and detract from every fervice, and add, 
as in the cafe of Job (z), artifice to rage, and 
falfhood to malice ; Jefus ftands at the right 
hand of God, to vindicate our character from 
every mifreprefentation, and to plead his own 
righteoufneis and blood, in anfwer to thofe 
charges which cannot be denied. Again, 

The interceflion of Chrift prevails " for the 
acceptance of our perfons and fervices." We 
muft indeed humbly own, that we are fuch 
ginfui creatures, that we pollute whatever we 
touch ; and there is fo much fin adhering to 
the be ft of our duties, that they need forgive- 
nefs, rather than merit reward. But the Angel 
before the throne offers the prayers of the 



x Rons, viii. 33. 34. y Zech. iii. 1. z Job i, 8c lit 

E 



74 CHRIST'S Saving Power, ser* nr. 

Saints with much incenfe (a), which gives the 
a grateful favour ; and they are made acce 
table in the beloved (b). 

In a word, this interceflion is effectual " 
procure for us all neceflary bleflings whi 
Chrift in confequence of it, is commiffioned 
beftow upon us. Thus he now keeps us frc 
falling ; and he will ere long prefent us befc 
the Father with exceeding joy (c). The pra^ 
he offered on earth, as the model of that whieri 
he is prefenting above, (hall be completely 2 
fwered with refpeft to all his people : We (h 
be one, in the Father, and in him ; and (hall all 
be made perfect in one, being with him whs 
he is (d). And the eternal happinefs of eve 
believer fhall {hew the value the Father fets on 
the blood of the Son, and on that intercefii 
v/hich is founded in it. 

We have thus taken a brief furvey of what 
the fcripture informs us, concerning the inter- 
ceflion of Chrift. I am 

II. To confider, how this interceflion wh\ 
he ever lives to make, " is a proof of our 
Lord's being able to fave to the uttermoft." 

So you fee the apoftle affirms ; and fo it will 
appear to be, if we confider the foundation, 
extent, and the perpetuity of it. 

1. The intetceffion of Chrift, " being founded on h 
tenement, is a proof of the efficacy of that," and come- 
quently of his ability to fave. 

You have feen it exprefsly aflerted in Scrip- 
ture, that it is by his own blood that he is 

a Rev. viiic 3, b Eph. I 6~. c Jade 24. d John : 



ser. in. argued from his hiterceJJlo?i. * 

tered into the moft holy place (e). He pleads 
with, and upon that ; urging before the Father, 
virtually at lead, the merit of his facrifice on the 
crofs, as the great argument to beftow gofpel- 
bleffings on thofe, for whom he hath thus pur- 
chafed them. So that you evidently fee, that 
were not the atonement of Chrift iatisfaclory, 
his interceffion would be vain. And can you 
imagine, that God would ever have permitted 
a perfon to enter heaven, and to take up his Ra- 
ted refidence there under the character of an 
interceiTor, whofe plea he has difaliowed ? It 
were moft abfurd to fuppofe it. The fatisfac- 
tion of Chrift therefore appears to be compleat, 
and confequently his perfon divine, and there- 
fore his faving power almighty, from his ever 
living lO make interceffion. And this the Apo- 
ftle feems plainly to intimate in thofe memo- 
rable words : who being the brightnefs of the 
Father's glory, and the exprefs Image of his 
perfon, and upholding all things by the word 
of his power ; having, in confequence of thefe 
divine perfections, by himfelf, that is, by the 
facrifice of himfelf, purged or expiated our fins, 
fat down at the right hand of the majefty on 
high (f ) ; which he could never have done under 
this public character, had his nature been lefs 
glorious, and fo his atonement lefs compleat. 
2. The actual exercife of this intercefSon " in fuch an 
extent, does farther imply divine Perfections," and 
by confequence a fulnefs of Savino- Power," 

I K ave before obferved, that there is the 
greateft reafon to believe, the interceffion of 



e Heb. ix. 12 



>]6 CHRISES Saving Power, ser. in. 

Chrift isnot merely his appearance before God, 
in the body in which he fuffer'd •, but that it is 
attended with a conftant and ardent intention, 
that his death may be effectual to the purpofes 
defigned, not only for his people in general, but 
for each of them in particular : And I endea- 
voured to (hew you, that it implied a care, cor- 
refpondent to their various circumftances, that 
grace might be accommodated to every time of 
need. Now this plainly implies a knowledge 
extending itfelf even to omnifcience 5 a know- 
ledge of the hearts, as well as the conditions of 
his people \ a knowledge of thofe unutterable 
breathings (g), in which the most valuable part 
of prayer conilfts, and of thofe fecret aflaultsand 
-ftrugglings, which are often the moft painful 
fcenes through which the Chriftian pafies. Yet 
fuch a knowledge muft the great Interceffor 
have, not only of one particular perfon, bu£ 
of each, and of all the children of God that are 
Scattered abroad in the moft diftant Nations of 
the Earth, and all at the fame moment of time. 
Surely we muft fay, fuch knowledge is too won- 
derful for us ; it is high, we cannot attain unto 
it (h) ; efpecially when we confider it, as jjoin'd 
with the adminiftration of that univerfal King- 
dom, over which he is exalted. In this view, 
the humble foul muft fall proftrate before him 
in the lowlieft homage, and cry out, " my Lord, 
and my God (i) ! thou art indeed able to favc 
to the uttermoft: nothing can exceed the pe- 
netration of thy wifdom, or the extent of thy 
power." 

g Rem. viil z& h PfaL cxxxlx, 5.. i John xx< sS* 



ser. in. argued from his Interceffion, 77 

3, " The perpetuity of Chrift's Interceffion is a farther 
argument of his ability always to fave." 

In this view the apoftle introduces the thought, 

he is able to fave tQ the uttermoft, feeing 

he ever lives to make interceffion. "Tis an encou- 
ragement to our believing application unto him, 
as the Lord mighty to fave, when we confider, 
that in the prGfecution of fo amazing an em- 
ploy, he fainted not, neither is weary (k). Had 
it been the appointment of the Father that he 
mould have retired from the office of an inter- 
ceffor, after he had attended to it for fome few 
days or years, we muft by faith have looked to 
a paft, as the Old Teftament Saints did to a 
future tranfaftion: But furely our comfort could 
not have arifen fo high, as it now does, when 
we refle£t, "even at this moment is Chrift ap- 
pearing in heaven for me: he is there as the 
refuge of his people throughout all generations 
(1) : and I have all imaginable fecurity of his 
laving power, becaufe his one offering has fo 
fully com pleated the work, that he needs not to 
come down to earth again, by dying to renew 
the facrifice that he preferred here. No ; the 
efficacy of it is everlafting, as his interceffion 
upon it is perpetual." This feems plainly the 
Apoftle's meanings by what he adds juft after the 
text \ — Such an High-Prieft became us, — who 
needeth not, as thole High-Priefts under the 
law, daily to offer; — — having done it once 
for all, when he offered up himfelf (m). 

III. It only remains, that I conclude with 
a few obvious, but important refle&ions. 

k Ifa. xl. 28. 1 Pfal. xc. 1. m Keb. vii. 26. 27. 

£3 



CHRISES Saving Power, SER. hi. 



i. How admirable, and how amiable, does the bleffed 
Jeius appear, when confiiered as the great Intereeffor 
of his people. 

How admirable is he in this view ! what an 
honour is done him in the heavenly world ! 
How dear to the Father does he appear to be \ 
when God will not accept the ferric es of the 
greater! and beft of mankind, unlefs prefented 
by him \ and for his fake will gracioufly regard 
the meaneft and the vileft finner ! And how 
great does this IntercefTor appear in himfelf ? 
" blelTed Jefus," may the chriftian fay, " who 
is like unto thee ? who canft at once fuftain fo 
jnany different relations, and canft fill them all 
with their proper offices, of duty to thy Father, 
,and of love to thy people ! who canft thus bear, 
without incumbering thyfelf, without interfer- 
ing with each other, the prieftly cenfer, and the 
royal fceptre ! how wife are thy counfels ! how 
extenfive thy views ! how capacious thy 
thoughts *, and yet at the fame time, how com- 
panionate thy gracious heart ! that amidftall the 
exaltations of heaven, all the fplendors of thy 
Father's right hand, thou fhouldft ftill thus gra- 
cioufly remember thine humble followers ! that 
thine eye mould be always watchful over them, 
thine ear be always open to their prayers, thy 
mouth be ever ready to plead for them, and 
thine arm to lave them ! As if it were not love 
enough to defcend and die, unlefs thou didft 
for ever live and reign for them, and even glory 
in being made head over all for thy church." 

" But efpeeially," may the chriftian fay, 



SER. HI. argued from his Inter cejfwn* 79 

when I think of thee, bleffed Jefus, not only as 
the Interceflbr of thy people in general, but as 
my Interceflbr ; when I think, that thou haft ef- 
poufed my character and my caufe, vile and 
obnoxious as it is \ and that thou art recom- 
mending my poor broken fervices, which I daily 
bii>m to p _eient before thee ; and art ufing thine 
intereit and thine authority in the world above, 
to compleat my falvation, which thou haft be- 
gun ? What lhall thy poor fervant fay unto 
thee ? All thefe aftonifhing and kind regards to 
me, who am unworthy to wafii the feet of the 
leatt of thy followers ! Shall not the wonders 
of fuch condefcending grace engage my grati- 
tude to all eternity ? My praifes now are io ex- 
ceeding feeble, and fo low, I am almoft aftiam- 
ed to offer them : O when fhall thofe nobler 
praifes begin, which I hope ere long to offer 
in that world of perfection, to which thy gra- 
cious interceffion is bringing me ?" 

2, With what holy joy may the chriftian reflect on his 
intereit in fuch an Interceifor 1 

Methinks we fnould be often entering into 
this pleafurable thought. The Lord Jefus is 
pleading for us above, and he ever lives^to make 
intercellion there. We had pious friends, who 
were once bearing us on their hearts before 
God in prayer ; but they are now fleeping in 
the duft : our dear religious parents, our holy 
ministers, our guides and companions in the 
ways of God ! We have no warrant to expe£t 
any farther affistance from their prayers. In 
this fenfe, Abraham is ignorant of us, and 
Ifrael does not, and cannot acknowledge us 



So ^.HAIST's Saving Power 4 , ser. in. 

(n): but Christis an ever-living IntercefTor, with- 
out whofe interpofition theirs hadbeen vain, and 
in comparifon with whom we have none cn 
earth, or in heaven to defire. Let Papists com- 
mit themfelves to -he patronage of Angels and 
Saints, and by a voluntary and offenfive humi- 
lity, intreat them to intercede with God, or to 
intercede with Christ, in their favour : as Christ 
has by one offering perfected for ever them that 
are fanctified (o); fo by one continued inter- 
ceffion in which he needs and admits no aflb- 
ciate, he forever fecures them. ' 

3, With what holy boldnefs may the Chriftiao draw 
near to God, in dependance on fuch an intercefl.br, 

We have daily important errands to the 
throne of grace ; and perhaps hardly any thing 
would more promote the fuccefs of them, than 
to lift up a cheerful and believing eye, as ex- 
pecting to receive Something from God's 
hand (p)* A confeioufnefs of our own n um- 
ber lefs imperfections and defects, may indeed 
difcourage us ; a fenfe of our guilt might even 
fright us away. But when we fee Jefus stand- 
ing before the throne, in fuch a posture, in fuch 
a character, furely we may venture near; and 
when most awed, and most difmayed, may en- 
courage ourfelves in him. This is ail inference 
which the Apostle draws, and which he repeats 
again and again : feeing we have a great high- 
priest that is paffed into the heavens, Jefus the 
Son of God \ let us come boldly to the throne of 
Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find 
grace to help in every time of need (q) ; for 

n Ifa. Ixiii. 16. o Heb. v. 14. p Ails iii. 5. q Heb> 
£v. 14, 16. 



SER. in. argued from his Inter ceffton. St 

furely, neither mercy to pardon, nor grace to 
strengthen will now be withheld. Having there- 
fore boldnefs, (as he elfewhere exprefles it) to 
enter into the holiest by the blood of Jelus, 
by that new and living way which he hath con- 

fecrated for us, let us draw near : and oh 

that we might ever do it with a true heart, tince 
there is fo blefled a foundation laid for a full 
affurance of faith (r) ! 

4, What reafon is there to adore the divine wi&om 
and goodneis, in appointing fo excellent a way, at 
once, to promote our humility, and our confidence 

You have feen, how justly it may establifh 
our faith, to confider, that though we are un- 
worthy for whom any thing fhould be done, yet 
Christ is worthy : and I may add, that in ap- 
pointing him to be our interceffor, God hath 
declared his own favourable regard to us, and 
we may comfortably conclude, that the Father 
himfelf loveth us (s). Yet this love is mani- 
fested, as in a very gracious, fo alfo in a very 
humbling way. This token of divine difplea- 
fure against fin is yet upon us, that we are not 
allowed to draw near to him in our own name 
or to expert the least favour for our own fake ; 
but he still keeps us at an humble distance, nor 
will he permit us to fee his face, unlefs ouj 
elder brother be with us (t) : and as he treated 
Eliphaz and his companions, faying, my wrath 
is kindfed against you ; take now an offering, 
and go to my fcrvant Job, and he {hall pray for 
you, and him will I accept ; lest I deal with 

r Heb. x. 19 — 23, s John xvi. 37. t Gen. xliiu 



82 Christ's Saving Power, ser. Ufa 

you after your folly (u) : thus God refufes to 
look on the best of our offerings, if they do not 
pafs through another more acceptable hand. 
How awful a reflection, and how wifea provi- 
fion, to promote that humility, which to well 
becomes pardoned rebels, before the only in- 
jured majefty of heaven ! This is, as he ex- 
prcffes it by Ezekiel (w), that we may remem- 
ber our way, and be confounded, and never 
open our mouths any more, becaufe of our 
fhame, even when he is pacified towards us for 
all that we have done. 

Laftly, How powerfully fhould this comfortable do&rine 
operate on our minds, to promote our love to this 
great interceffor, and our zeal for his honour and glory 1 

" Blessed Lord" mould each of us fay, 
" doft thou remember fuch a worthlefs worm 
amidft all thine honour and joy above, and fhall 
not I remember thee, the king of glory ? Where 
fhould my heart be but with thee ? On what 
fliould I fet my affections, but on thofe things 
which are above, where thou fitted at the right 
hand of God (x) ? My righteoufnefs, and my 
ftrength, mine advocate, and my guardian ! 
Shall I be unmindful of thee ? While thou art 
pleading my caufe in heaven, fhall I not be 
joyfully willing to plead thy facred and honour- 
able caufe on earth? Rather much rather, may 
I forget the powers of reafon,and lofe the facul- 
ty of fpeech, than negletl to ufe them for 
thee : rather may my tongue cleave to the roof 
of my mouth (y), than it fhould be afliamed > 

u Job xlii. 7, S. \v Ezck. xyi. 63. x Col. iii. x, v 

y Pfal. exxxvi, £ } 6* 



SER. in. argued from his Intercejfton* 83 

or afraid, to vindicate thy gofpel, though I 
ftood alone in a crowd of infulting blafphem- 
ing enemies, and though they added cruelty 
and terror to their impieties. So mayeft thou 
confefs me before thy Father and the holy An- 
gels, in the laft folemn day, as I determine that 
I will confefs thee now ^z), though this crook- 
ed and perverfe generation mould grow ftill 
more degenerate than it is." 

Christians, if we have not fuch fentiments 
and refolutions as thefe, I fear we have no 
title to any of the comforts of Chrift's intercef- 
fion, and^ mall have no fhare in its invaluable 
blellings. 

z Matt, x. 32. Luke xii. 8. 



E 6 



SERMON IV. 



Coming to God by Christ, the character of 
those that shall be saved. 

Heb. vii. 2^. 

Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the utter* 
moft, that come unto God by him , feeing he ever 
liveth to make inter ceffon for them. 

\^HEN the Pfalmift had been celebrating 
the majefty of God, as the almighty Crea- 
tor and pofleffor of all, he breaks out into this 
mod natural, and important enquiry, who fhall 
afcend into the hill of the Lord ? and who fhall 
Hand in his holy place (a) ? And methinks, 
chriftians, when we have been hearing of the 
boundlefs power of Chrift to fave, and of the 
prevalencyof thatintercefhon which he ever lives 
to make, we fhould immediately cry out, " who 
are the happy fouls, in whofe refcue this almigh- 
ty arm fhall be employed , and whofe caufe this 
gracious interceffor will undertake always to 
plead ?" The text anfwers the queftion in a 
very edifying and fatisfaftory manner, though 
in a few words \ they are fuch as come unto God 
by him. 

You know that from this fcripture I have 
already confider'd, 

a Pfal. xxlv. 3. 



SER. IV. Coming to GOD by CHRIST, CSV. 85 

I. What we are to underfiand by Chrift's 
being able to lave to the uttermoft. 

II. What evidences we nave, that he is real- 
ly fo. 

III. I have confidered the particular argu- 
ment for it, which the Apoftie here draws, from 
his ever living to make interceffion. 

It only remains, that I now open 

IV. The character of the perfons, who are 
encouraged to expe£l a {hare in this falvation j 
they are fuch as come unto God by him. 

Now before I proceed to the more particular 
difcuffion of theie words, you muft give me 
leave to obferve, that they fecm in their pri- 
mary and ftricleft fenfe to fignify " an ap- 
proach to God in the folemnities of religious 
worfhip, in the name of Chriit, as the great 
inter c etfbr." 

As when the Jew T ifh people were honoured 
with the abode of the Shekinah, the vifible 
token of the divine prefence, they did in their 
higheft religious folemnities approach to that, 
furrounding with their facrihces, and their 
prayers, the tabernacle or temple, where it held 
its refidence ; hence it feems to have come to 
pafs, that the phrafes of coming to God, com- 
ing into his prefence, and drawing near to him, 
were often ufed to exprefs the acts of divine 
worfhip (b). And as the priefts were admitted 
to come nearer to the ark, on which this vifible 
glory ufually refted, than others even of that 
holy nation} they are with peculiar propriety 

b Numb. viii. 19. Pfal. Ixv. 2. lxxiii. zS. xcv. 2. c. 2» 
IU, xxix. 13. Iviii. 3. Heb. vii. 19. 



86 



Coming to GOD, SER. IV. 



fpoken of, as drawing near to God (c). We 
may alfo add, that forafmuch as once a year the 
High-Prieft went into the holy of holies, in the 
name of the whole congregation, with the blood 
of victims offered to expiate their fins ; they 
might properly, at that folemn feafon, be faid 
to come unto God by him. And the connection 
of thefe words, as I have largely fhewn, does 
mod evidently imply an allufion to thefe Jewilh 
rites, and a regard to Chrift as the great High-* 
Prieft of our profefiion. 

But it would be very imprudent, and un- 
fcife, to leave the matter thus generally explain- 
ed. Salvation is here promifed, to all that come 
unto God by Chrift j as it elfe where is, to all 
that call on the name of the Lord (d). Yet 
molt certain it is, from the whole tenor of 
fcripture, that there are multitudes who call on 
his name, and tranfmit their petitions to God 
in a profefied dependance on his mediation and 
interceilion, whole perkms and fervices God 
will rej eft with abhorrence ; who mall fee falva- 
tion only from afar, and never be permitted to 
taite of it. And therefore it is manifeft, that, 
to make the fcripture confiftent with itfelf, thefe 
phrafes, wheii conne£ted in fuch a manner, 
muft be taken in a much larger extent, as com- 
prehending all that, by which the acceptable 
worlhipper, and the true believer, is diftinguifhed 
from the hypocritical profeiTor who draws near 
to God only to dilhonour him, and to bring oa 
himfelf aggravated guilt and condemnation. 

c Exod. xix. 22. Lev. x. 3. Numb. xvi. 5. Ezek. xl. 46* 
adiv. 13. d Joel ii. 32, Acts ii. %i Rem. x. iy 



SER. IV. by CHRIST explained. 87 

And by confequence, coming to God, as the 
phrafe is here ufed, muft fignify in the gene- 
ral, applying ourfelves with the greateft feri- 
oufnels to our important bufinefs with him as 
fuch expreflions often fignify, when they axe 
put for the whole of religion (e) ; and coming 
thro' Chrift muft imply " fuch Humble and 
faithful regards to him as the great mediator, 
fuch a cordial acceptance of him, fuch a chear- 
ful dependance upon him," as is fo often in 
the New Teftament expreffed by that faith in 
him, to which the promifes of eternal falvatLon 
are made, and to which they are limited. 

But fince 'tis a matter of fo great moment, 
and a matter in which it is to be feared fo many 
are deceiving their own fouls, give me leave to 
defcend into fome particulars of explication. 
And let me intreat your diligent attention, and 
bcfeech you, as you dread the ruin of the hy- 
pocrites in Sion, that you enter ferioully into 
your own hearts, and judge yourfelves, as per- 
fons that expeft fhortiy to be judged of the Lord 
(f). Oh that through the fanctifying, the 
quickening, and the witnefling influences of the 
holy fpirit, we might fee the characters which 
are now to be drawn, more and more evidently 
agreeing to ourfelves ! 

The believer you fee is here defcribed, 

as coming to God ; and as coming to him 

through Chrift. 

I. The believer is defcribed, as one that 
comes to God. 53 

e Pfal. Ixv. 4. Jer. xxx. 21. 23. Jam. iv. 3. f 1 Cor, 
xi. 31, 



88 



Coming to God 



ser, IV. 



This evidently implies, a firm perfuaiion 

of his being and attributes, adeep conviction 

that it is our higheft intereft to fecure his fa- 
vour, a readinefs to renounce whatever can 

come in competition with it, — a chearful and re- 

folute fubje&ion to his fervice, and a care to 

keep up a tontinual correfpondence with him, 
and to live as in a ftate of nearnefs to him. 

i. Coming to God evidently implies, " a firm belief of 
his being and perfections." 

This the Apoftle afferts in exprefs words, 
which carry their own evidence along with 
them; he that cometh unto God, muft believe 
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them 
that diligently feek him (g). And indeed the lat- 
ter is as neceffary as the former far merely to 
believe a firft caufe of almighty -power and con- 
fummate fkill, as fome pretend to do, without 
any fenfe of his providence, government and 
goodnefs, is, with regard to all the purpoies of 
practical ieligion, as vain and as pernicious as 
atheifm itfelf . 

But you will remember, that a good man 
does not reft in fuch a cold aiTent to the truth 
of thofe doctrines, like that he gives to propo- 
rtions which he ftudies only for aaiufement. 
No, but they defcend into the mind with a due 
energy, and he realizeth them to himfelf with 
the utmoft ferioufnefs. " Oh my foul," does he 
often fay " it is not a precarious conclusion, or 
a mere probable hypothecs, that there is a God, 
and fuch a God as I profefs to believe; but it 
is a certain and evident truth. I do not more 

g Heb. xi. & 



ser. IV. by CHRIST explained 89 
clearly fee the meridian fun by his cwn rays, 
nor more farely know, that I myfelf think, and 
exilt •> than I fee God by his works, and know 
him as the original author of my being, and of 
thefe thinking powers which are now enquiring 
after him. There is, there is, an eternal and 
immutable Jehovah. He reigns on an exalted, 
throne above, and the higheft potentate of that 
fhining world was infinitely more inferior to him 
than iuperior to the meaneft infect on earth. 
God is there, and he is here \ he furrounds 
all his creatures with his immenfity, and pre- 
ferves them all by his influence. In him I live 
and move, and have my being (h) ; on him an- 
gels and worms are equally dependent ; nor is 
there a motion in the material, or a thought in 
the intellectual world, to which he is not mod 
intimately confcious. Behold him, oh my foul, 
with reverence and love \ for he is a moll aw- 
ful being, inwhomunfearchablewifdom, and al- 
mighty power, are joined with unerring juftice, 
unipotted holinefs, and invariable truth ; but 
remember he is alfo the mod amiable. There 
is a beauty in all thefe perfections; and it is foft- 
ened and fweetenedby the overflowings of good- 
nefs and mercy \ thofvi rich and gentle ftreams, 
which not only water Paradiie, but vifit thefe 
regions of guilt and darknefs." 

Such views as thefe are familiar to the mind 
*of the believer : and this Firm and affectionate 
perfuafion of the being and attributes of God, 
is the foundation, both of natural and of re- 
vealed religion and the root, from whence all 
h Ads xvii. 28. 



90 Coming to God ser. iv. 

the branches of moral virtue, and evangelical 
faith and holinefs, muft fpring. 

2.. Coming to God muft alio imply, " an earneft defire of 
a mare in the divine favour, as our higheft inteieit and 
happinefs." 

And methinks, this is a neceffary confequence 
of the former. We are indeed too apt to lift 
up our foul unto vanity (k), and to grow fond 
of thefe empty fhadows : But it is becaufe God 
is forgotten ; as we admire the liars, becaufe 
the fun is abfent. But furely, when the mind 
is thus poffeffed with a fenfe of God, it will 
feel a kind of indignation, that any other object 
mould have ever been compared with him, tho* 
it were only to be poftponed, as inconceivably 
lefs valuable. Much more will it be difpleafed, 
and afhamed to think, that it has ever preferred 
thefe to God. " Alas," will fuch a foul fay, 
" whither have I wandered ? Into what a wil- 
dernefs am I come ? I look round about me 
on the creatures, and I fee no flielter nor re- 
freshment. They are like broken cifterns or de- 
ceitful brooks (1), whofe waters fail me, when 
I need them moft. What then, O Lord, do I 
wait for ? my hope is in thee (m) ; for thou art 
the fountain of living waters (n): all fufficient for 
my happinefs, and only lufficieit for it. If I 
were a poor abandoned outcaft,^if I had not a 
friend or helper on earth \ if I knew not where I 
mould look for my next lodging, or my next 
meal \ if at the fame time my body were worn 
out with pining illnefs, and every member of it 
the feat of pain \ yet if I could but look up, and 

k Pfal. xxiv. 4. 1 Job vi. 15. m Pfal. xxxix. 7. 
n Jer. ii. 13. 



ser. iv. by CHRIST explained. 9r 

fee thy face through this cloud, if I could but 
call thee my Father and my God, I were happy 
{till •, and might pity the moil profperous mo- 
narch on earth, that was a ftranger to thee, and 
thy love. There are many that fay, who will 
{hew us any good i Oh that thy fpirit may teach 
them true wiidom ! But as for me, I will fay, 
Lord* lift thou up the light of thy countenance 
upon me. Whom have I in heaven but thee ? 
*and there is none upon earth that I defire be- 
fides thee (o;." In confequence of this, 

3. Coming to God implies, ** a readinefs to foriake every 
thing which can ft and in oppofition to him. 

My brethren, what I have been defcribing, is> 
in a good man, not merely a conviction of the 
underftanding, but a fentiment of the heart. 
He would abhor the hypocrify, the impiety, and 
the folly, of owning the incomparable excel- 
lence of the divine being, and yet practically 
chufing lbmething elfe before him. " Lord/* 
does he fometimes fay, " I have often done it ; 
and for ever blefled be thy name, that thou didit 
not finally chute thofe my delufions (pN It 
grieves me to think, how I injured thee, and 
dishonoured and wronged my own foul, when 
other Lords had dominion over me : and they 
would detain me in their ignoble fervitude ; but 
in anfwer to all their unreafonable claims, I 
make mention of thy name (q). Thou required, 
that I ihould give thee my very heart (r), and 
fhould be ready to leave all and follow thee (s) \ 
Lord, I would chearfully confent, and hope that 

o Pfal. iv. 6. lxxiii. 25. p Ifa. Ixvi. 4. q Ifa. xxvi- 
13. r Prov. xxiii. *6. s Luke xviii, 2S. 



92 Coming to God ser, iv. 

through grace I can fay, none of thefe things 
move rne, neither ihould I, in fuch a caufe, 
count my life dear unto me (t)." 

4. Coming to God does farther import, a willing 'abjec- 
tion to his fervice." 

" Lord/' does the chriftian fay, " I would 
come to thee, not to fit down under thy fhadow, 
indolent and unacfcive. My faculties were made 
for employment and it is my joy to think, that 
they mail be employed for thee. I love thee 
with all my heart, and with all my foul ; and 
therefore, by the aids of thy grace, I will ferve 
thee with all my might, and with all my ftrength 
(u\ I would gladly yield myfelf to thee, as 
alive from the dead, and ufe my members as in- 
ftruments of righteoufnefs (x). Thy promifes 
are my delight, as I truft they are my portion ; 
but, Lord, they are not the only part of thy 
word that I love : for I delight myfelf in thy 
ftatutes and love thy commandments above gold, 
*yea, above fine gold (y\ I account thy fervice, 
mine honour, and my happinefs ; I defire always 
to keep the eye of my foul directed towards 
thee, to wait the intimations of thy gracious 
pleafure ; and if I am diftinguiflied from others 
by any advantagesof nature, or of circumftances, 
I would chiefly rejoice in them, as they are ca- 
pable of being improved for thee." 

Coming unto God does alfo imply, the keeping- Of acq©* 
ftant correipondence with him;" 

I before abferved, that this phrafe, in the 
prefent conne&ion, feems particularly to refer 

t A&s xs. 24. u Luke x. 27, x Rom. vi. 13. y Ffai- 
cxix. 16 — 127. 



SEPw. IV. by CHRIST explained. 

i t our approaching him in the folernnities of 
, religious worfhip : and when it is fpoken of 
vis a part of the chriitian's character, it plainly 
intimates a frequent and conftant care in thefe 
duties. Thus good men under the old law are 
defcribed, as a generation cf them that feek 
God (z). "Lord/' does every child of God 
often think and fay, "it is indeed good for me 
to draw near unto thee v a). What is my great 
final hope, but to dwell in a ftate of everlafting 
nearnefs ? In the mean time, the nearer I am 
to thee, the more of heaven is brought down to 
earth ; the more I enjoy of thee, the more do I 
fcnjoy myfelf, and relifh my being. I make my 
vUits to thy throne, not merely to pay an 
I homage which thou required, but to feek an 
entertainment which I prefer to any other. 
Far from looking upon it as a difagreeable con- 
dition, with which my expectations from thee 
are clogged, I count the opportunities of fuch 
converie, and my inclinations towards it, in the 
number of my greater!: obligations to thy good- 
nefs." Should God fay to the chriftian, « I 
will for thee future difpenfe with thine atten- 
dance 3 thou malt retain thine intereft in me, 
plough thou ihould'ft call upon me no more ; 
and {hall meet me as thy friend at death, though 
\ thou forgetteft me in life the good man would 
j not bz able to bear fuch a difmiffion. He would 
rather fay, " Lord, if I were to live only on 
thefe terms, it were much better for me to die. 
I fhculd with Mofes, in another cafe, pray thee 
to kill me out of hand v b), rather than leave me 
z Pill. xxiv. 6, a PiU lxxiii. 28. b Numb. xL is. 



94 Coming to God ser. iv. 

here under fuch a burden as life would feem, 
if it might not be fweetened by communion 
with thee, in the clofet, in the family, and in 
public ordinances." 

These, my brethren, are important parts of 
the chriftian's character, yet they are far from 
being the whole of it. With this temper he 
comes to God; but how mould he be encouraged 
to fuch an approach, if the great Redeemer 
were forgot ? We add therefore, 

II. That all, to whom falvation is promifed 
in the gofpel, " make their approach to God 
through Chrift," or, as the text expreffes it, they 
come unto God by him. 

You will no doubt be willing, that I mould 
open this important article pretty largely ; and I 
fhall do it under the following particulars. 
Coming to God by Chrift implies,— —a deep 
fenfe of our need of a mediator, in order to our 
comfortable intercourfe with God ; — — a per- 
fuafion of the power of Chrift,— and a confi- 
dence in his grace ; a cordial approbation of 

the method in which he beftows falvation ; — 
and a conftant care to maintain proper regards 
to Chrift, in the whole courfe of our walking 
with God. This is that evangelical faith, to 
which the promifes of gofpel falvation are ap- 
propriated, by the text before us, and the whole 
tenor of fcripture. 

i. Coming to God by Child implies, " a deep fenfe of our 
" need of a mediator, in order to a comfortable intercourfe 
with God." 

Christianity is the religion of finners ; and 
it will never be really welcome to a foui ; that is 



SER. IV. by CHRIST explained. 95 

not fenfible of the evil, and malignity of fin. 
The natural pride of our hearts would firft lead 
us to forget God, and not to feek after him at 
all : But if confcience be in any meafure awaken- 
: ed to fee (what it is ftrange every rational 
\ creature lliould not always fee) our dependance 
on him, and our need of an intereft in his 
1 favour, pride finds a fecond refuge, in a fond 
conceit of bringing fomething of our own to 
recommend us to it. And if it length men are 
fenfible, they have nothing of this kind, which 
I they can call their own, they are ready to think 
1 of caftingthemfelves immediately on the mercies 
of an. offended God, rather than of multiplying 
their obligations, and their dependance, by 
I coming to him through a mediator. If we mujft 
own ourfeives finners, we are prone to extenuate 
our guilt ; and if we cannot look upon it as 
indifferent, would at leaft reprefent it, as an 

• excufable thing, which is worthy of compaflion, 

• rather than of indignation. How difficult is it 
; to view it in a true light ! To fee what infolence 
■ and bafenefs it carries in it, and what danger 

and ruin it expofes us to ! But divine grace 
makes way for the gofpel into our hearts, by 
difplaying the juftice and the holinefs of God, 

• as equally eflential to his nature, with his wif- 
dom and goodnefs : and then, when we confider 
ourfeives as appearing in his prefence, convicted 
of ten thoufand aggravated offences, we cry 
out from a deep and inward fenfe, "who is 
able to ftand before this holy Lord God (c) ! 

I wherewith (hall I come before the Lord, and 
c 1 Sam. tf. 40. 



9 6 Coming to God ser. 

bow myfelf before the high God (d) ? Surel 
need fome perfeftly righteous mediator, higl 
his favour, to introduce me to him, and 
render my accefs fafe and comfortable, by 
pearing as a days-man betwixt us, to lay 
hand upon us both (e)." 

2. Coming to God by Chrift- farther implies, " a 
perfuafion of his faving power." 

We have been endeavouring to prove it 
large ; and the convi£tion of it enters deep i 
the believing foul. He affents to this mofc c 
cerning truth with full fatisfadlion, though fr 
be fomething in the foundation of it wh 
feeble reafon cannot fully comprehend. Im- 
portant as he fees his everlafting concerns to . 
he can courageoufly venture them here ; he 
cry out, "Lord. I believe" tho' a mixture 
unbelief may cod him many a tear (f\ ff Lor 
does he often fay, " I am fure, that if thou w . 
thou canft make me clean [g). Tho 9 Jew a 
Gentile may reje£l thee, I humbly own thee, 
the head {lone of the corner. Oh ! that I wi 
but as fure of an intereft in thee, as I might 
of finding my fecurity and my happinefs in it 

3. It farther implies, " chearful confidence in the gi 
of Chrift," as well as a perfuafion of his faving pov 

Without this, he would appear the obj 
of terror, rather than of hope ; or in the mi 
eft view, but as a fpring (hut up, and a fount 
fealed, to a traveller languiflaing, and dying w 
thirtl : but faith teaches the chriftian firmly 
rely on that kind and gracious invitation, if ; 
d Micah vi. 6. e Job ix. 33. f Mark ix 24. g N. 



SE&. IV. by CHRIST explained. 97 
man third:, let him ccme unto me and drink (h), 
" Yes/' fays the believer, " it is indeed fo„ 
The companions of his heart are proportionable 
to thc'power of his hand ; and I will eaft my 
foul upon them. BlefTed Jefus, I would throw 
myfelf at thy feet, thought it were a fuppofable 
cafe that I might perim there, and but an un- 
certain peradventure, that thou mighteft pity 
and fave me ; for if thou fhouldeft not, I could 
but die ; and I had rather die an humble peni- 
tent, than an obftinate rebel : But forgive that 
unworthy thought,— that thou moulded leave 
an humble penitent to die before thee ! neither 
thy grace, nor thy truth, will permit it. Him 
that cometh to thee, thou wilt in no wife cait 
cut (i) : And though I am a poor, weak, worth- 
lefs creature, thou cameft not to call the 
righteous, but finners to repentance (k) \ and 
thou calleft them in fo companionate a manner, 
as to engage that thou wilt not break the bruif- 
ed reed, nor quench even the fmoaking flax (1), 
Let Chrifl be true, whoever is a liar." Thus 
do his doubts gradually difperfe ; thus does he 
rife to a joy and peace in believing. But it is 
always to be remembered, 

4. That coming to God by Chrift includes, li a cordial 
approbation, and acceptance of the methods of his 
faving grace." 

This is of the higheft importance, if we 
would not deceive ourielves to our eternal ruin. 
Men may drefs up an idol in their own minds, 
and call it by the name of Chrift ; and they may 
be as fond of it, as Pagans are of the works o£ 

h John vii. 37. i John vi. 37. k Matt. ix. 13. 
1 Matt, xii/20. 

F 



9^ Coming to GOD ser. iv. 

the works of their own hands : but can this fave 
them, if it be found that the true Chrift, as ex- 
hibited in the gofpel, has been overlooked and 
rejected by them ? A true believer impartially 
enquires after the way in which falvation is pro- 
pofed in the word of God \ and when he has 
discovered it, he entirely approves it, as a faith- 
ful faying, worthy of God to appoint, and mod 
fit forhim to accept. More particularly he 
views it, and acquiefces in it, as the way of 
faith, and the way of holinefs. Each of thefe 
views of it will deferve our farther attention. 

Tks good man heartily defires to receive the golfpel- 
fa!vatio;i, in " the way of Faith, or humble believing. " 

'Tis thus the Word of God always exhibits 
it : « The juft fliall live by faith" (m) ; nor 

mail any flefh glory in his prefence" (n). 
And fo entirely is every high thought reduced 
to the obedience of this bleffed principle, in the 
heart of him that conies to God by Chrift, that 
he is willing to do, what to fo corrupt a nature 
as ours leems moft expenfive, " to buy wine 
and milk without money and without price (o) j 
willing to part with - the very deareft of his 
idols, to renounce all dependence on himfelf, 
as to what is paft, or what is yet to .come ; to 
truft no more in his own righteoufnefs, or his 
/ own ftrength ; and fay with die moft joyful 
confent of foul, " In the Lord have I both 
righteoufnefs and ftrength" (p). " Bleffed Jefus, 
it is hard to my proud heart to fay it ; but it j 
is therefore fo much the more reafonable and 

m Rom. h 17. n 1 Cor. i. 25*. _ o Ifa. h t 1- ? |Ca« 
adv. 24. 



sER. IV. by CHRIST explained. Pp 

neceffary ; For this curled dependance on felf 
has fpoiled the beft of my duties, and would 
betray me to guilt and ruin in many future in- 
fiances, fhouldeft thou forfake me. How im- 
perfect and finful are my beft days, and my 
nolieft hours ! How feeble and ineffectual my 
molt vigorous and folemii refolutions, againlt 
fo much inward corruption, and fo many out- 
ward enemies and temptations ! " Lord, I am 
diftreffed, but I hope, thou haft undertaken for. 
me" (q% I hope, I may look on thee as my 
great iurety and covenant-head, who didft, be- 
lore the foundation of the world, engage to fa- 
tisfy for my breaches of thy Father's law, to 
work out for me a perfecT: righteoufnefs, and 
by thy always victorious power and grace, to 
conducl me to glory in the midft of all oppo- 
fition. Eternal life is the gift of God, through 
Jefus Chrift our Lord (r) ; from his hand would 
I moft thankfully receive this crown, and at his 
feet would I humbly lay it !" On the other hand, 

It is to be remembered, That as Chrift faves his people, 
" in the way of holinefs," the true believer molt cor- 
dially falls in with this part of the fcheme. 

Indeed he could not otherwife be a believer 
in the gofpel fenfe of the word ; for laving faith 
is a principle of holy obedience ; and a faith 
without works is exprel ly declared to be dead* 
as the body is dead when without the Spirit (s). 
The chnitian well knowi, that it was the great 
deiign of his Lord's appearance and fufferings 
in the flelh, that he might bring us to God (tj, 

q ifa. tfxxviii. 14. r Rom. vi. 23. s Jam. U, Z<)» ' 
t 1 PetU i3. 

F 2x ' 



too Coming to God ser. iv. 

that he might fave his people from their fins (u> 
and purify them to himfelf, as a peuliar people, 
zealous of good works" (w). And how rea- 
fonable is this part of the fcheme ! M Could I," 
fays he, " have defired, that it mould have been 
otherwife ? that the Holy jefus fhould have 
been the minifter of fin ? that he, whofe great 
bufinefs it was to honour the law of God, fhould 
liavc diffblved our obligations to it, and have 
given a licence to his followers to continue the 
fervants of corruption (x), even while they call 
him their Lord ? Or could I afk it, or even fo 
snuch as wifh it, that he thould diftinguifh me 
from others, by a difpenfation of that kind ? 
Unreasonable and deteftable thought ! Lord, I 
defire not, I underftand not a falvation, of 
which holinefs fhall not be an effential part. 
And though I well know, that many precepts 
of thy gofpel are fublime, and difficult *, and 
that they may be juftly reprefented, by cutting 
£>fF a right hand, and plucking out a right eye (y ); 
yet through thy grace I can fay, I efteem all 
thy pre'cepts concerning all things to be right, 
.and hate every falfe way (z). BlefTed Jefus thou 
art more y/elcome to my foul, as made of God 
unto me, fa notification, as well as rightoufnefs 
and redemption (a). Give me thy fpirit to 
lead me, and I will follow with pleafure \ draw 
ine, and I will run after thee in the way which 
thou thyfelf haft traced for thou who knoweft 
all things, knoweft that it is the defire of my 

u Matt. i. 21. w Tit. ii. 14. x 2 Pet. ii. 19. y Mat* 

f. 2p ? 30. z PiaL cxixc 128. a 1 Cor. i. 3Q, 



ser. IV. hy CHRIST explained. I ox 

ibul, to be confirmed to thee in holinefs now, 
as well in glory hereafter." I fhall only add, 

5. Cominc to God by Chrirt does farther expreis " a con- 
tinual care to maintain proper regards to him, in the 
whole coune of our walking with God." 

He is not confidered, only as a Mediator to 
introduce us at firft into the divine prefence, 
and fo to fettle a correfpondence, to be carried 
on afterwards without any farther ufe of him 5 
but as that blefled and important perfori 
" through whom we have continually accefs by 
one fpirit unto the Father" (b). " Lord," does 
the chriftian often fay, not merely as a language 
learned from others, but as expreflire of what 
he feels in his own foul, " thou art indeed my 
life. How mould the branches grow, but by* 
fap derived from the root ? How mould the 
members act, but by influences communicated 
from the head ?" teach me by thy grace to fay 
with thine holy apoftle, " I live, yet not I, but 
Chrift liveth in me, and the life which I now 
live in the fleih, I live by the faith of the Son 
of God, who loved me, and gave himfelf for 
me" (c). And may I ever be found in the num- 
ber of thofe, who, regarding thee, as the living 
itone, are by a union with thee, " as lively 
ftones, builded up together with an habitation 
of God through the Spirit" (d) ! Thus let me 
pafs through the wildernefs of life, leaning on 
thee as the beloved of my foul (e) ; and when 
I have finilhed my pilgrimage, may I lay down 
my weary head, in thy gentle faithful bofom, 

b Eph. ii, 1 3. c Gal. ii. 20. d 1 Pet.£. 4, 6. J£?h. & 
22. e Cant. viii. 5. 

F 3 



Coming to God ser. iv 

dying as I have lived, in the exercife of faith, 
and commending my fpirit into thine hands !" 

This is the character of thofe who come 

unto God by Chrift ; and in thefe refpefts may 
they fay, with the beloved difciple, " truly our 
fellowship is with the Father, and with his 
Son Jefus Chrift" (f). 

I shall not enter on a laboured argument 
to prove that thefe particulars are comprehended 
in the words which the text ufes, to defcribc 
thofe who are interefted in the gofpel falva- 
tion. It is a formality, which may well be 
fpared, to thofe who confider the natural im- 
port of the phrafe, and the general tenor of the 
word of God ; and the fcriptures which I have 
introduced under each head, will eafily furniih 
out matter of proof, to thofe who are capable 
Vof judging of a more abftrufe kind of argument 
than I here think it proper to enter upon. 

I should rather chufe to dilate on the prac- 
tical improvements, which might naturally arife 
from this branch of my difcourfe j and addrefs 
myfelf to you in fuch exhortations as thefe 
Let us adore the divine goodnefs, that fuch a 
falvation is offered to us, in fo reafonable, fo 
eafy, and fo gracious a way : — Let us examine 
by the hints which have .now been propofed* 
whether we are in the number of thofe who 
are interefted in it : — —Let thofe who are con- 
vinced that they are not, be perfuaded ferioufly 

to reflect on their prefent circumftances 

Let thofe who are alarmed with a fenfe of their 
prefent danger^ be perfuaded^ in ftrength of 
f i John i. 3. 



sER. IV. by CHRIST explained. 1 63 

divine grace, to come unto God through Chrift • 

Let thofe who are fincerely defirous to do 

it, be encouraged to purfue fo wife and necef- 
fary a purpofe : And let thofe who have been 
enabled to comply with the exhortation, be ex- 
cited to peculiar thankfulnefs, and eftablifhed 
in a chearful hope of that falvation, which they 
are taught to expect. But that I may not be 
under a neceffity of difpatching thefe impor- 
tant heads in a few hafty words, or of fwelling 
this difcourfe to an immoderate bulk, I chuie 
to refer them to another opportunity, when I 
lhall conclude what I have to offer from the 
text ; nor would it have employed us fo long, 
had it not contained a variety of very weighty 
and inftructive matter. In the mean time, may 
the hints I have now been giving you, be fo re- 
collected and confidered, as to prepare yoyg 
hearts for what is farther to be fpoken ! 



SERMON V. 



An Exhortation to Sinners to come unto God 
by Christ. 



Heb. vii. 25. 

Wherefore he is able alfo to fave them to the utter- 
mojl that come unto God by him, feeing he ever 
liveth to make inter cejfion for the 

At length, my friends, I am entering on the 
laft difcourfe, which I intend from thefe words. 
Our meditations upon them had been drawn to 
a ciofe much fooner, had not many funeral 
difcourfes interrupted them ; and you know, 
there were alfo others of that kind, which did 
not interrupt them, being preached on Week- 
days. But it is furely molt fit, that thofe aw- 
ful providences, which for a while diverted our 
thoughts from this fubjeft, mould now awaken 
our more diligent and lively attention to it. 
It is net for mortal creatures to trifle with thefe 
important truths of chriftianity, on which the 
life of their fouls does fo evidently depend : 
No, nor to reft in fpeculative views of them, 
while heart-application is negiefted The 
dying, and the dead, look upon thefe things in 
another manner $ and we mail fhortly be num- 
bered amongflT them : The Lord awaken us 
new fo to hear the conclufion of the whole 



SER. v. An exhortation to Sinners, C5V. 105 

matter, as we (hall then wijh we had heard it ! 
I have already endeavoured, 

I. To mew you, what we are to underftand by Christ' 
being able to fave to the-uttermost. 

II. To prove that he is fo. 

III. To open the doctrine of his intercefilon, and to eon- 
fider what an argument it is of his favin^ power. And then, 

IV. I have considered the character of thofe, who fiiall 
be interefted in this fiiyatiori as dsfcribed in the text by 
their com mg to God by him. 

Under each of the three former heads I have 
given you feverai reflections •, and I am now to 
conclude with ethers which more immediately 
arife from the fourth, efpecialiy when taken in 
connection with the foregoing. May each of 
you know your own concern in them \ and may 
the bleffed Spirit of God apply them to your 
fouls with divine efficacy and fuccefs ! Suffer, 
I befeech you, this word of exhortation to ad- 
drefs you in thefe fix particulars. 

i. " Let us adore the divine goodnefs that fuch a falvation 
is ottered us, in fo rcaionable, fo eafy, and fo gracious a 
a way." 

Such a falvation in any method might have 
been joyfully welcome to us j and how much 
more m this ! Let us call in our roving thoughts, 
and fettle them for a while in this one point. 
Let us ftand flill and fee this falvation of God. 
Sure when we contider our natural condition, 
in the view in which the gofpel reprefents it 
when we hear the law of God thundering out 
its curfes againft us ; when we fee his jultice 
lifting up its fvvord to fmite us, hell gaping to 
devour us, and its malicious fiends eying us 
as their furer prey, and impatient to begin our 



lc6 An exhortation to Sinners ser. f* I 

torment •, in fuch a view it muft have appeared ! 
a great favour, had God heard the cry of our 1 
anguiih and defpair, fo far as to permit the 1 
rocks to fall upon us, and the mountains to i 
cover us, though they had cruhYd us into atoms, < 
and he had, at the fame time, extinguished the ! 
thinking part of our nature and reduced it toils l 
original nothing : O how gladly would millions, i 
that were once the rich, the great, the learnedj 1 
the victorious of the earth, meet fuch a late as \ 
this ; and perhaps be more thankful for the i 
deftru£lion of their beings, than they ever were t 
for any of its enjoyments ? But we hear of being ] 
faved, — of being faved to the uttermoft \ — - tl 
hear of it, not merely as a favour conferred on ] 
others, but as an offer propofed to us j as a n 
fcheme, not merely deliberated upon, or intend- jj 
ed, but in a great meafure already effecTted ^ and g 
our eyes are direfted to the regions of compleat \ 
and eternal glory, as an abode pur chafed and f 
prepared for fuch worthlefs and guilty creatures \ 
as we. " Blefled God ! did our appointed way S 
to it lie, not only through a wildernefs of" thorns > di 
but through a fea of fire, how gladly might we | 
accept the propofals ? If the fcheme had been G 
to raife us to this heavenly paradife, after the | 
fevered courfe of penance on earth ; or even t 
after we had tailed of the cup of thy wrath in ti 
hell, and fuffered all but the defpair of thofe r 
doleful regions, for a long fuccefiion of years or ar 
of ages : furely we muft then have received the m 
news of fuch a diftant deliverance on our knees, $ ; 
and have mingled thy praifes with thofe groans a 
and tears, which fuch intermediate difcipline 



v "S'ER. v. to come unto God by CHRIST. 107 

.1 had extorted from us. And do ft thou now offer 
ff ms a complete pardon, in fo eafy a way, as only 
c to fay to us, wafli and be clean, as only to call 

1 us to come unto thee by Chrift ?" Surely, 

chriftians, inftead of complaining of this as a 
t hardfhip, we have reafon to own it as great addi- 

isclional favour. Whither indeed mould we 

\ go, but unto God ? And where mould we dwell 
, fafe and happy, but under the fhadow of his 
$ wings? And how could we have prefumed, or 
ei indeed how could we have borne, to have come 

e 'to him, otherwife than by Chrift ? It is true 

[ .indeed, that if we could enter into a treaty with 
• this prince of peace, we muft give up our fins : 
liiBut what are thefe, but the tyrants of the 
litfnind, whofe reign is our fervitude, whofe death 
\ -is our deliverance ! — And what though we muft 
' :give up our own righteoufnefs too, as to any 
. dependence upon it for our juftification before 
ijlGod ; is there a foul among us, that would dare 
ipto ftand, or fall according to the perfection of 
\ jthat ? And is there an experienced chriftian, that 
j does not know that there is a fecret unutterable 
:! pleafure in fubmitting to the righteoufnefs of 
God (a); and a wife and rational tranfport of 
foul, in receiving the rich grace given us in Chrift, 
1 to make us corn pleat in him (b) ; far beyond 
ij the vain joy of that diftempered dream which 
i reprefented us to our own imagination, as rich 
and honourable, righteous and happy, in the 
midft of poverty and lhame, guilt and mifery ? 
, , Surely if we fhould hold our peace, when fuch 
a falvation is propofed to us in fuch a method as 
a ilom. x. 3. b Col. ii. 10. 



ic8 An exhortation to Sinner? ser. y 

this, it might almoft be expected that the very 
ftones would cry out, to upbraid our ingratitude 
(c). 

2. Let us ferioufly examine, whether we have u come 
to God by Chrift, and fo are mterefted in this great 
falvation." 

To each of you, my friends, that hear rne 
this day, is the word of this falvation fent (d) ; 
and that you have received the offers of it, will, 
on the whole, be matter of everlafting joy, or 
of everlafting forrow. The word of God affures 
us, that there are comparatively few that re- 
ceive faving benefit by it, 4 < many are called, 
but few are chofen" (e). And does it not alarm 
you ? Methinks, if there were only a few out 
of considerable numbers, that miffed it, each 
fhould be ready to tremble for himfelf : if we 
knew but one foul in all this affembly fhould 
finally lofe it, we might each of us cry out 
with great folicitude of fpirit, if in any degree 
unaffured with regard to ourfelves, " Lord is 
it I" (f ) ? And how much more now ? — —Are 
there any of you that muft fay, « I do not 
certainly know, whether this falvation will be 
mine or not ? How can you bear the uncer- 
tainty ? Let me charge it on your confciences 
that you enter into the enquiry. Have you 

come unto God by \Chrift ?~ 1 afk not fo 

much, whether you believe the exiiience of a 
God, and the truth of chriftianity ? This is a 
faith, which you may carry down with you to 
the habitation of devils, who themfelves alfo 
believe and tremble (g) ? 1 afk not fo much^ 

c Luke xix. 40. d Acls xiii. 16. e Matt. xx. 16. 

f Matt. xxyi. 22. g Jam. ii. 19. 



ser. v. to come unto God by CHRIST. 109 

whether you have ever felt fome defires after 
; an intereit in God through Chrift ? In this 
refpect, as well as in others, there is a defirc 
of the ilothful that kills him (h), while it ferves 
only to increafe his prefent difquietude and his 

after punifhment. But I afk, what is on the 

I whole your choice ? What are your cares, your 
i hopes, and your joys ? Do they center in God ? 
Do they arife from communion with him 
through Chrift ? Do you experimentally know, 
< what it is to come to his throne, fubmit your 
revolted fouls to his government with delight ? 
( To wait the fignal of his will, as the rule of 
your actions to enjoy, or at leaft earneftly 
] defire, the vifits of his grace, the effufions of 
1 his love on your hearts ? Is prayer your pleafure* 

• or is it your burden ? Do you regard the word 
I of God as an invaluable treafury, or is it to you 

* as a fealed book ? You have a thcufand traces 
' of the fublimeft devotion and piety there : can 

1 2 you reliih them ? Can you find any confiderable 
I ' refemblance between yourfelves, and thole holy 
t ' fouls, whofe charafters are there recorded and 
I ' approved ? You call yourfelves chriftians ; but 
- do you know Chrilt, and do you love him, and 
W do you cordially approve of the methods of his 
1 i faving grace ? Do you know what it is, to come 
3 c and lay down your guilty fouls, as under the 
a f eirufions of his blood *, to ftrip yourfelves of all 
a 1 the pride of nature, that your nakednefs may 
1 be cloathed with his glorious righteoufnefs ? to 
bow to his fceptre as his obedient fubjefts, and 
i, , rejoice that you have fuch a governor ? And do 
h Prov. xxi. 2 c. 

■ G 



ll§ An exhortation to Sinners ser. V. ' 

you feel the necefiity of a daily application to 
him, as your great covenant-head, on wfrofe 
infl; spec you live, and by whofe fpirit you muft 
perpetually be actuated, to the purpofes of a 
divine life ? — — Thefe, thefe are the decifive 
questions ; and let me intreat you to hear what 
confcience has to reply to them. 

And permit me once more to afk you, if you 
are yet uncertain, as to this important article, 
how it is that this uncertainty fits on your 
mir i ? Are you eafy under it ? Do you care- 
lefly refer the enquiry from one day to another ; 
or purpolely decline it, becaufe you are afraid 
of fome confequences which may difturb you ? 
Or do you renew your examinations again or 
again- fearching for thofe fcriptures, and wait- 
ing for thofe parts of our public difcourfes, 
which may pierce deepeft, and try your fouls to 
the utmoft ; ftill above all begging, that God 
would fearch them ; and renewing your humble 
intreaties, that you may know the very worft 
of your ftate, and be at length brought unto 
him through Chrift, though it were by the mofl 
painful way, that any of his fervants have ever 
trod ? 

As to fome of you, perhaps, the cafe may 
require difcuffion: But I believe there are others, 
to whom it would be no long labour. I fear, 
even while I am yet fpeaking, confcience muft 
witnefs againft fome of you, that you are utter 
ftrangers to fuch a temper, and that you never ' 
came unto God by Chrift. And therefore, 
3. " Lex thofe who are confcious to themfelyes, that th ey 



ser. v. to come unto God by CHRIST. x 1 1 

have never come unto God by Chrift, be engaged feri- 
to reflect on the clanger of their prefent condition." 

I know, the corruption of cur hearts ftrongiy 
inclines us, to think as favourably as poffibly of 
ourfelves, and eagerly to grafp the feebleft reed, 
which may give ibrne prefent, though moft pre- 
carious, fupport to our hope: and I know, 
Satan would favour the delufion to the utmoft, 
becaufe he is aware, there is but a fhort time 
in which he need labour to do it ; fo that if he 
can amufe you a few days, you are his prey for 
ever. It is our bufmefs, as mmifters of the 
gofpel, to counter- work thefe deceivers. O that 
God would teach us to do it effectually ! u (in- 
ner, thou art convinced in thy confcience, that 
thou art a ftranger to the temper and character 
I defcribed ; that thou art the man who haft fat, 
perhaps many years, under the found of the 
gofpel, and to this very day haft never come 
unto God by Chrift. And doft thou hope for 
falvation by him, while this is the cafe ? It is a 
I moft arrogant and pernicious hope. I folemnly 
| j declare unto thee this day, thou haft neither 

part nor let in this matter (i). Doft thou 

[ 1 hope ? On what foundation is it ? Shew me one 
promife in the whole book of God, that fpeafcs 
pardon and peace to an impenitent unbelieving 
) firmer. Wilt thou fay, Chrift is able to fave to 
| ! , the utter mo ft ? He is indeed fo : and yet it is 
| no contradiction to declare, that as things now 
r ftand, he cannot fave thee ; for he cannot deny 
1 himfelf j he cannot overthrow the whole tenor 
of his gofpel, and make himfelf the minifter cf 

IP ' ' -AT. •" 

x Acts Vlil. 31, 

G % 



1 1 2 An exhortation to Sinner: ser. v. 

fin (k)." You know, he has exprefsly faid, if 
ye believe not that I am he, ye fhall die in your 
fins (1) ; nay he that helieveth not fhall be 
damned (m). You know he has foretold, that 
he will another day publicly fay, as for thofe 
mine enemies, who would not that I Ihould 
reign over them, bring them forth, and flay 
them before me (n ) ; and that fo much more 
dreadful condemnation awaits them, than fell 
on the tranfgrefibrs of Mofes' law, though they 
died without mercy (o), that it fhall be more 
tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day 
of judgment, than for fuch v p). And will your 
hopes fiill ftand, while ail this dreadful artillery 
is planted directly againft them ? fhall the earth 
be forfaken for thee, and the rock be removed 
out of its place (q) ? rocks mould much fooner 
be removed, and all the earth left defoJate, than 
the whole conftitution of the gofpel (hall be 
overthrown, lett thou fhouldeit perifn. You 
would not take poifon, in hopes that God mould 
work a miracle to preferve your life. Yet you 
might more reafonably expect this, than the 
other ? becaufe it would not fo directly contra- 
dict any of the perfections of God, or any of 
his declarations. The matter is brought to a 
very fhort iflfue ; and it requires no penetration, 
or labour of thought, to fee it. If the gofpel be 
not true, there is no foundation for expecting 
this falvation at all but if it be, you are cut off 
from any hope of it, while you continue thus \ 

k Gal. ii. 17. 1 John viii. 24. m Mark xv. 16. 

n Luke xix. 27. o Heb. x. 23. p Matt, J l- Q Job* 



sER. v. to csme unto God hy CHRIST. 

and you are, even whilft I fpeak, on the very- 
borders of hell. 

And now, difarmed as you are of all thefe 
unavailing hopes, fit down and enter deeply in- 
to your prcfent circumftances. " The Son of 
God became incarnate, and lived and died to 
procure falvation for iuch guilty creatures as I ; 
and I have heard of this falvation ; but I have 
no fhare in it. To this very hour the wrath of 
God abideth on me (r). A ftorm of vengeance 
is arifing around me, and I am excluded from 
the only ark in which I could be fafe. Ex- 
cluded by what ? Why, to make it fo much 
the more grievous, by my own folly." If we 
were to take upon us abfolutely to pronounce 
concerning any of you, that you were excluded 
from the offers of gofpel-grace , you would no 
doubt refent it highly ; as you reafonably might. 
Much more, were it in the power of a fellow 
mortal to deprive you of all fhare in this great 
falvation, might you cry out of it as a moft 
heliifh cruelty. You would not for the world 
do this wrong to another, if it were in your 
power. What, murder an immortal foul ? You 
would tremble at the thought. But you tremble 
not at the thing. It is what you are doing, 
while you are rejecting the gofpel. And will 
you never have compaffion on your own poor 
bleeding fouls, till the laft incurable wound is 
given ? Yet a little, a very little while, O finners, 
and you will lift up your defpairing eyes in the 
midit of your torments, and behold this falva- 
tion from afar (s). And alas, in how different 

r John iii. 3^. s Luke xvi. 23. 
G 3 . 



H4 An exhortation to Sinners, ser. v. 

a view will it then appear, even to the mod 
indolent, and mod prefumptuous of you all ? 
And how will it rend your very fouls to think, 
" It was offered to me, and I would not accept 
it ?" And what a doleful echo will there be 
amongft you, when you, and ten thoufand more 
miferable creatures, are crying out, "There 
was an Almighty Saviour provided for finners, 
and yet we are loft for ever ; and are funk fo 
much lower than others, becaufe we heard of 
him, and defpifed him !" 

4. " Let fuch fmners, as are avvakened to a fenfe of their 
danger, be invited and perfuaded, in the ftrength of 
divine grace, to come unto God by Chrift." 

All the awful and terrifying things we fay, 
are dictated by the fincereft and tendereft love 
to your fouls ; and nothing can be farther from 
our intention, than to come to torment ycu be- 
fore the time (t). Did we know, that your day 
of grace was paft we would fpare thefe unwel- 
come pains 5 and would rather permit you to 
fleep on and take your reft. But thefe are mo- 
ments of hope, finners, though you make them 
moments of extream danger . and though there 
be no hope for you, while you continue to reject 
Chrift, yet if you accept him, you have nothing 
to fear ; but this very day, if you this day en- 
tertain him, (hall falvation come to ycur houfe 
\u). Behold, now is the accepted time ; behold, 
now is the day of falvation (w) and after fo 
long a time, it is yet called to-day (x). Once 
more, and as to fome of you, it may be for the 

t Matt. viii. 2^ u Luke xix. 9. • w 3 Cor, vi. 2- 
- Heb. iv. 7. 



SERr V. to come unto Goi) hy CHRIST. 115 

laft time, is the proclamation again made amonft 
you, Chrift is able to fave to the uttermoft them 
that come unto God by him \ and thofe that 
come, he will in no wife caft out (y). And do 
you not hear the proclamation with pleafure ? 
and will you not obey it, as worthy of all accep- 
tation (z) ? 

What if the fcene were changed, and the 
propofals were addreffed to thofe wretched 
creatures who are now in hell ? What if God 
{hould fend an embaffador to them, and give 
him authority to addrefs them to fome fuch 
purpofe as this ? " Defpairing creatures, I am 
now come amongft you, not as a me0enger of 
vengeance, but of peace. God has at length 
looked on your miferies with a companionate 
eye \ and there is a ray of mercy, darting through 
this gloom from the throne of grace, and from 
the fun of righteoufnefs. The propo lis you fo 
long heard with indifference, and which you 
have fo much longer remembered in the bitter- 
nefs of your fouls, are qnce more renewed. If 
you cry unto him, even out of thefe depths, he 
will hear you ^ if you will fubmit your fouls to 
his government and his grace, he will fave you; 
a-nd I am commifiioned in his name to aflute 
you, that not only (half thefe gates of hell be 
thrown open for your releafe, but thofe of 
Heaven fhail be opened too for your admit- 
tance." 

Sinners, let your own confeiences fay, how 
you imagine at leait, that fuch a propofal would 
be received! by condemned fpirits. Do you not 

y John vi. 37. z 1 Tim. i. 15. 



1 1 6 -An exhortation to Sinners y ser. V. 

think, that (as one forcibly expreffes' it,) they 
would even leap in their chains ? Do you not 
think, the marks of long horror and defpair 
would immediately vanim from their faces ; 
that their eyes would fparkle with hope and 
joy; and that they would begin the work of praife 
even with their flaming tongues ? But are not 
you yourfelvesinthefame condemnation, though 
the fentence be not yet executed ? Why then 
do you now defpife thofe rivers of mercy, the 
fmalleft drop of which you will hereafter defire 
in vain ? 

Alas ! what we have here defcribed, is mere- 
ly an imaginary fcene. Millions of ages {hall 
roll away in a fad fucceffion, and no fuch pro- 
pofais be made to the inhabitants of hell *, nor 
to you finners, if you come into that place of 
torment. But they are now made good in 
earnefc ; and therefore, to-day, if ye will hear 
his voice, harden not your hearts (a). Oh force 
us not another day, for the deliverance of our 
own fouls, to bear a dreadful teftimony to the 
condemnation of yours *, but hearken to thefe 
embafiies of peace, and let us intreat and per- 
fuade you to be reconciled (b). This is ftill the 
meflage, the invitation, the charge, even the lame 
that you heard from the beginning ; come unto 
God by Chrift. Behold a gracious God, ftretch- 
ing out his arms to receive you ; behold a com- 
panionate Redeemer, yet waiting to introduce 
you to his favourable prefence : and all the faith- 
ful fubjects of his kingdom, here and above, are 
longing to fee it erected in your fouls. The 
thought even of our own faivation, would be ftill 
a Heb. Hi. 15. b 2 Cor. vi. 26. 



S ER. V. to come unto GOD by CHRIST* II j 
i fwecter to us, if we had a probable hope of 
ffiaring it with you. And lhali earth and heaven 
expect and dehre it in vain ? and will you, as it 
were, grieve both ; that hell may rejoice in your 
ruin, and that devils may iniuit over you, and 
upbraid you, as having with your own hands 
thurlt away that lalvation, of which all their ma- 
lice and their rage might in vain have attempted 
to deprive you i You will then, alas, find no 
place for repentance, though like Efau you feek 
it carefully with tears (c). 

Alas, my friends, what more fhall I fay ? 
Could I find out any more weighty arguments, 
any more plain, ferious, and aftechng, forms of 
addrefs, 1 would go on, though the difcourfe 
mould fwell beyond its due bounds ; though my 
own itrength were impaired by the earneitneis 
oi it 5 and though a vain, wretched, unbelieving 
world mould deride at that earneltnefs as enthu- 
fiaim and madnefs. Nay, who that knows the 
importance of immortal fouls, would not go on 
to plead in fuch a caule, though minutes and 
hours were to be it ruck oft from his life for 
every word that he utters in it, could even fuch 
an expenuve fervice be fure of fuccefs ? but that 
depends upon God, and to whom we would 
look for it. In the mean time, 1 difmifs you 
with this one word : whether you will hear, or 
whether you will forbear, he in whole name I 
Ipeak, is witnefs, that the embaiTy is delivered ; 
and fuch words as thefe remain recorded in the 
book of his remembrance, and will fconer or 
later be brought to your's. 



c Heb. xii. 1 7 . 

G 5 



1 1 8 An exhortation to Sinners, ser. v. 8 

5. " Let fuch as aredefirous of coming to God by Chrifh n 
take encouragement from trie declaration in the text ' j. 

We arc not altogether ignorant of Satan's t 
devices (d) : We know, by frequent obfervation < 
and experience, how foon he can turn the fyren's 
fong, into the roaring of a lion •> what efforts he 
makes, to drive the awakened foul into the 
agonies of defpair, and to perfuade him that he 
has thrown himfelf beyond the reach of mercy. 
But, if he be prattifing fuch cruel artifices on 
any foul in this afTembly, I do, in the name of 
our Lord and matter, charge the lye oh the 
father of falfhoods. You have perhaps a great 
many things to plead againft yourftives , fuch 
as, the number, the enormity, and aggravation 
of your fins : You will fay, they have been 
committed againft the cleareft light, againft the 
tenderer!: love, againft admonitions, more ferious 
refolutions, mod folemn covenant engagements : 
but all thefe pleas, and a thoufand more, are 
anfwered in this one word, he is able to fave to 
the uttermoft, them that come unto God by him. 
Is it ftill matter of doubt ? Turn a fide then, and 
more attentively view the trophies of his grace 
and power, erected in his w6rd, erected on 
purpofe for our encouragement, on whom the 
ends of the world are come. 

Behold Paul in his unconverted ftate, a blaf- 
phemer, and a perfecutor, and injurious 
He appears to have diverted himfelf, not only 
pf that gentlenefs of manners, which might 
reafonably have been expected from a man of 
fo liberal an education, but even of the fenti- 
d % Cor, ii. ir, c 1 Tim. i. 13. 



SER. V. is come unto GOD by CHRIST. Hp 

ments of common humanity furioufly breath- 
ing out threatnings and flaughters againft rfie 
faints (f), without the leaft regard to innocence 
of life, or to tender nefs of age or fex. Yet at 
the appearance of an Almighty Saviour, this 
furioris barbarian was melted and fubdued : In 
the full career of his blind and cruel rage, he 
falls down at the feet of that Jefus whom he 
perfecuted, and cries out the very next moment, 
with the loweft fubmiffion, Lord, what wilt thou 
have me to do (g) ? By the power of Chriil, the 
liend was transformed into an angel ; he preach-* 
ed the faith, which juft before he endeavoured 
to deftroy (h) ; and quickly learnt fuch language 
as this, neither bonds nor imprifonments move 
me ; nor do I count my life dear unto me, fo 
that I may finifh my courfe with joy, and the 
miniftry which I have received of the Lord 
Jeius, to teftifythegofpel of the grace of God (i), 
The Corinthians were debauched and aban- 
doned to a proverb, the fcandal of their country, 
and the reproach of their nature. For when 
the apoftle had been reckoning up a catalogue 
of the moft infamous finnersj fuch, as forni- 
cators, and idolaters, and' adulterers, and effemi- 
nate, and abufers of themfelves with mankind, 
and thieves, and covetous, and drunkards, and 
revilers, and extortioners ; he adds furpriling 
words, (and oh what furprifing grace do they 
imply !) Such were foixie of you (k) \ fuch, that 
one would almoil have expected, that lightning 
from heaven mould have blafted them a or that 

f Acls ix. i. g A&s ix. 5, 6. h Gal. 23, i A&i 
apt. 23, 24. k 1 Cor, vi. «?. 10/ it. 

G 6 



I2Q An exhortation to Sinners, ser. v. 

the earth mould have opened a paffage into hell : 
but inftead of this, fays the apoltle to thefe very- 
men, ye arc warned, ye are fanftified, ye are 
juftified, in the name of the Lord Jefus, and by 
the fpirit of our God. The blefled Jefus did 
not upbraid them with their former crimes, but 
poured forth his fpirit upon them in fo abundant 
a degree, that their faith was every where 
celebrated, and they came behind in no gift (1). 

If yet we can imagine any crime more notori- 
ous than fome of thofe, which are charged on 
the Corinthian converts in their natural itate, it 
rauft furely be that, which the fun could not 
behold without horror, nor the earth fuftain 
without trembling the murder of our Lord 
Jefus Chrift, that innocent, that holy, that divine 
Perfon, with qll the circumftances of the moft 
inhuman cruelty. They had known his exem- 
plary converfation, they had heard his heavenly 
difcourfes, they had feen his divine miracles; 
yet in fpite of all thefe, the outrageous Jews 
feize him as a peft of human fociety, drag him 
before a heathen tribunal, extort a fentence of 
condemnation againfl him, and at length, after 
a thoufand indignities and barbarities, rraii him 
to the crofs by the hands of the Romans. Yet 
would he (hew, that even thefe rebels were not 
beyond the reach of his power, and grace : for 
no fooner was the difpenfation of the Spirit open- 
ed, but three thoufand of them were converted 
in one day ; they gladly received the word, and 
were baptized in token of it (m) ; and notwith- 
ftanding all the efforts which the fubtilty, or 
1 i Cor. i. 7. m A<5ls ii. 41.. 



SER. V. to come unto Gon by CHRIST. 12 T 

fury of the enemies could ufe to draw them a~ 
way from it, they continued ftedfaft in thy 
doctrine and fellowfhip of the apoftles, and in 
breaking of bread, and in prayers fn) : and then 
are now in heaven, rejoicing in the prefence of 
that Jefus whom they murdered, and afcribing 
their eternal falvation to that blood which them- 
felves fhed. 

And now, methinks, I am at a lofs to ima- 
gine, what unbelief can find to object againft 
fuch initances and examples as thefe, efpecially 
when back'd with fo many encouraging promifes. 
Can you fay wcrfe of yourfeives, than that you 
are the chief of finners ? But Paul will tell you, 
that he was fo and that for this caufe, he 
obtained mercy, that in him, as chief, jefus 
Chrift might ihew r forth all loiig-fuffering for a 
pattern to thofe that fhall hereafter believe (o). 
And all the other examples are no doubt record- 
ed for the very fame purpofe, that you through 
comfort of the fcriptures might have hope p). 
Therefore, " when your hearts are overwhelmed 
w r ithin you, look unto the rock which is higher 
than you" (q). Look unto Jefus, and you will be 
lightened; and your face will not be afhamed (r). 
When fatan is plying you with his fiery darts, 
wield them off by the fhield of faith (s), and, as it 
were, hurl them back into the face of the temp- 
ter. Let all his endeavours to detdr you from 
it, engage you to adhere fo much the more 
ftedfaftly to your refolution, of throwing your- 
felves at the feet of Chrift : and let no one fear, 

n Adls ii. 42. 01 Tim. i. 16. p Rom. xv. 4" 

(j Pfal. lxi. 2. r Pfal. xxxiv. 5. s Eph. vi. 13. 



122 -An exhortation to Sinners, ser. v. 

that he fliould be the firft finner that ever 
penlhed there ; for it cannot be, unlefs almighty 
power oe weakened, and infinite companions be 
exhauued. 

*' h^ft HI be f n enabIed " t0 rome »«to God 

the bleffed work of praife, for which none on 
earth nave fo much reafon as you. It is matter 
of thankfulnefs, but to hear of this falvation ; 
how much more then, to have it brought home 
to our houfe, to our heart, fo as to be able thro' 
grace to fay, "this falvation is mine I" Oh 
remember, it was the fame grace which firft 
lent it, tnat has rendered it effectual. Refletf, 
1 mtreat you, firs, on your own hearts : had you 
not once your prejudice againft the gofpel, as 
well as others ? How unwilling were you to un- 
derstand the method of falvation it taught ? and 
when you did understand it, how much more 
unwilling were you to fubmit to it ? Yet now, 
thole very parts of the fcheme, which were once 
your peculiar averfion, are become your peculiar 
joy. 

Adore the work of divine grace, and take 
encouragement from it. Remember the con- 
nexion, which there is, between coming to 
Ood by Christ, and being faved by him even to 
the uttermost. Your deliverance from the 
curfe of the law, from the tyranny of Satan, and 
from the power of fin, is but the beginning of 
this falvation; but it will at length be ac- 
comphlhed ; and you ihould triumph in the ex 



I SER. V. to come unto Gov by CHRIST. 123 

1 pedtation of it, "Various enemies furrotmd 
I me," may the christian fay, and they feme- 
times feem even ready to fwallow me up : the 
world befets me with innumerable lnares ; 
Satan is daily feeking by his crafty wiles to get 
advantage over me *, the fiefh is ever ready to 
betray me j and death is threatning to destroy 
me with its sting ; but yet in all thefe things 
I am more than a conqueror, through him that 
hath loved me (t). Vain world, I mall quickly 
leave thee ! wily infernal ferpent, the God of 
peace lhali fhortly bruife thee under my feet 
(u) ! corrupt deceitful flefh, I (hall be happily 
: delivered from thee ! And death, thou king of 
terrors, I am allured, thou (halt be fwallowed up 
in victory (w) ! Though thou may'ft kilt me, 
yet thou canll not hurt me for I know, that my 
Redeemer liveth (x) ; and becaufe he liveth, I 
ihali live alfo (y)." Thefe are ientiments and 
views, worthy our character, as chriftians, 
worthy of thole who are the faved of the Lord. 
Let us take for our helmet this hope of falvation 
\z , and it will guard our head in every danger 
of life and death*, till at length we exchange that 
helmet for the celeftial crown, which the Lord 
mall give us in that day (a), when in the com- 
pleateit fenfe he (hall fave all his people to the 
uttermoft, and they mall all appear with him in 
the brighten: glories of this great and perfect 
falvation. 



t Rom. viii. 37. 
x Job xix. 25. 
a 2 Tim» w, S. 



u Rom-, xvi 20* 
y John xiv. 19. 



w 1 Cor. xv. 54. 
z Eph. vi. 17. 



SERMON VI. 



The Tenderness of Christ to the Lambs of 
his Flock. 

ISA. Xl. 1 I. 

He Jhall feed his flock like a fJjepherd ; he JJjall g 
thtr the lambs ivith ■ his arm, and carry them in 
his bofom } and Jhall gently had thofe that are with 
young. 

is well known, that there are three moil II- 
luftrious offices, under which our Redeemer is 
often fpoke of in fcripture ; thofe of the prophet, 
the prieft, and the king of his church. And 
there are feveral other characters, either coin- 
cident with thofe, or fubfervient to thern, which 
are frequently mentioned, and are worthy of 
our regard axnongft which that of a fhepherd 
is peculiarly remarkable, as oftfcn occurring in 
the word of God, and affording abundant 
matter, both for the mftruction, and the confo- 
lation of his people. 

I shall not now enumerate all the paffages, 
in which our Lord is defcribed under this 
character, both in the old Teftament, and the 
new. It may be fufficient here to remind you, 
that he was plainly foretold by Ezekiel, as that 
one fhepherd whom God would fet over his 
people to feed them, even his fervant David, 



sER. vi. The Tenderncfs of CHRIST, £sV. 1 25 

that is, the Mefliah, David's fon ; he, fays the 
prophet, (hall feed them, and he fhall be the 
fhepherd ^a\ And Chrift accordingly fpeaks of 
himfelf, as the good fhepherd (b ; and is fpoken 
of by one and another of the apoftles, as the 
great fhepherd of the fheep (c), and the chief 
Ihepherd (d>. So that on the whole, if the 
words of the text had a more immediate refer- 
ence to the Father, they might with great pro- 
priety be applied to Chrift, by whom the Father 
exercifes his paftoral care of his people. 

The chapter is opened with very reviving 
words; comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, faith 
your God : and to allure them that thefe confo- 
lations addrefled to them were indeed glad tid- 
ings of great joy, and worthy to be introduced 
in a very pompous manner, mention is made of 
a very remarkable herald fent before, whofe voice 
was to cry in the wildernefs, prepare ye the 
way of the Lord, make ftraight in the defert a 
high-way for our God (e) ; that is, let every 
obstruction immediately be removed: a fcripture 
fo exprefly applied to John the Baptift, as the 
forerunner of Chrift (f), that it may be fufficient 
to fix the fenfe of the context, with thofe who 
have any regard to the authority of the new 
Teftament, in explaining the old. 

To confirm the faith of Ifrael in this impor- 
tant meffage, a folemn proclamation is made, 
ver. 6. The voice \that is, the voice cf God, 
fpeaking to me in this virion,; faid unto me, cry; 

a Ezek. xxxiv. 23. b John x. it. c Heb. xiii. 20. 
d t Pet. v. 4. e ver. 3. f Compare ver. 3. with 

Matt. iii. 3. Mark i. 3. Luke iii. 4. John i. 23, 



126 The Tendernefs of CHRIST, SER. vi. 

that is, raife thy voice as loud as poffible : and 
I faid, what {hall I cry ? The following words 
are evidently the anfwer, which God returns to 
this queftio^i of the prophet ; q. d. " proclaim 
this awful and feafonable truth, all flefh is grafs, 
and all the goodlinefs thereof is as the flower of 
the field, which is yet more frail and fhort-lived 
than the grafs itfelf : the grafs withereth, and the 
flower fadeth ; but the ward of our God fhall 
ftand for ever. q. d. Were it only the promife 
of a man, you might indeed doubt of its accom- 
plifhment were it only the word of the migh-* 
a tieft prince on earth, it might give you but a 
trembling and precarious hope : man is a dying 
creature, and all the moft chearful hopes, which 
are built on him, may quickly perifh ; but the 
word of our God, even that word (as it is ex* 
plained by the apoftle Peter,) which by the 
gofpel is preached unto you, fhall ftand for ever 
(g), as the firm bafisof your hope and confidence, 
and fhall be certainly accomplifhed in the final 
redemption and falvation of his people." 

The heavenly voice ftill continues to fpeak 
to the prophet, who was honoured with this 
happy meflage, and charges him to deliver it 
with the greater! chearfulnefs and zeal. " O 
thou that bringest good tidings to Zion" (for fo 
I think the words fhould be rendered as they are 
by fome, and particularly in the margin of your 
bibles,) " get thee up into the high mountain, 
fome place of eminence, from whence thou 
rnay'st be univerfally heard: Oh thou, that 
bringest good tidings to Jerufalem, lift up thy 
g i Pet. i. 515. 



... 

1 1' SER. VI. to the Lambs o£ his Flock. 127 
IP voice with strength; lift it up; and be not 
! afraid, lest the event fhould not anfwer the 
promife ; but fay unto the cities of Judah, 
behold your God (h) ; for the Lord God will 
j come with a strong hand ; that is, the kingdom 
of the Meffiah {hall be erefted with a glorious 
difplay of the divine power ; and his arm {hall 
rule for him, as in former inftances of moft for- 
midable oppofition, his own right hand, and his 
! holy arm have gotten him the victory (i) : his 
! kingdom {hall be adminiftered with the exa&eft 
j equity and wifdom ; for his rewards is with 
him, to render to every man according to his 
I doings ; and his work is before him (k) : that isj 
he has the compleateft view of it, and keeps his 
eye always fixed upon it." 

Yet, (as it is added in the words of the text,) 
the authority of a prince, and the dignity of a 
God, {hall be attempered by the gentlenefs of a 
moft companionate {hepherd : he {hall feed his 
flock like a {hepherd ; he {hall gather the lambs 
with his arm, and carry them in his bofom, 
and {hall gently lead thofe that are with young. 

You have already heard of that ftrong hand, 
with which jefus our Lord is come, and of that 
victorious energy 3 with which his arm {hall rule 
for him. His name has been proclaimed amongft 
you, as the Lord of hofts, the Lord ftrong and 
mighty, able to lave unto the uttermoft*. Let 
us now confider him in this amiable character, 
in which our text deicribe 3 him; for this renders 

h 1 Pet. i. 9. i Pfal. xcviii, 2. k ver. 10. 
* See the foregoing Sermons, efpeeially the fecond. 



128 The Tender nefs of CHRIST, ser. vr. 

thofe views of his almighty power delightful, 
which our guilt would other wife render dread- 
ful to us. 

Christians, I would hope it is your defire, 
whenever you attend on the inftitution of the 
gofpel, to fee jefus. I may now fay to you, (in 
the words of Pilate, on a very different occa- 
fion,) behold the man (1). He appears not in- 
deed in his royal robes, or in his prieftly veft- 
ments ; but he wears the habit of condefcenfion 
and love ; and is not the lefs amiable, though 
he may not feem equally majefticj while he bears 
the paftoral rod inftead of the royal fceptre, and 
feeds his flock like a fhepherd, gathering up the 
feeble lambs in his arms, and bearing them in his 
bofom, and gently leading thofe that are with 
young. 

You will naturally obferve,— that the text 
declares Chrift's general care of all his people, 

and befpeaks his peculiar gracious regard 

to thofe, whofe circumftances require a peculiar 
tendernefs. 

I. We may obferve '* his general care of all his people/ 1 
He (hall feed his flock like a fhepherd : they 
may each of them therefore fay with David, the 
Lord is my fhepherd, I fhall not want : he ma- 
keth me to lie down in green paflures \ he lead- 
eth me befide the (till waters ; he rcttoreth my 
foul ; he leadeth me in the paths of righteoul- 
nefs for his name's fake (m). The church is 
his fold ; and ordinances are his pailures ; and 
his fheep fhall be nourifhed by them, till they 
grow up to that bieffed world, where, in a much 

1 John xix. 3. m Pfal. xxiii. 1 — 3. 



SER. vi. to the Lambs of his Flock, 129 

nobler fenfe than here, all the children of God 
1 1 that were fcattered abroad fhall be gathered 
• together in one (n), and fhall appear as one 
fheep-fold under the great fliepherd and bishop 
of fouls ^o), We have abundant reafon to ad- 
; mire his condefcenfion and love, in the view^ of 
thefe things, and to congratulate the happinefs 
of his people, as under fuch pastoral care. But 
I will not enlarge on this general view, or on 
thefe reflections upon it, that I may leave my- 
i felf room to infill on what I chiefly propofed in 
! the choice .of thefe words ; that is, 

I 2. " Christ's peculiar concern for thofe, whofe circum- 
stances require a peculiar tendernefs." 

! This is expreffed in thofe words ; he mail ga- 
! ther the lambs with his arm, and carry them in 
I his bofom, and gently lead thofe that are with 
I young, that is, he will confider their weaknefs 
! and infirmity, and conduct them as they are 
I able to bear it : which is alio implied in that 
j nearly parallel text, in which we are told, he 
1 mall feek that which was loft, and bring again 
! that which was driven away, and bind up that 
[ which was broken, and ftrengthen that which 

was fick (p). 

This is the general import of the words ; but 

for the fuller explication and improvement of 

them, give me leave, 

I. To enumerate the cafes and circumstances of fome 
christians, who may properly be conlidered, as the lambs of 
the flock, or as thofe that are with young. 

II. To confider what may be intimated concerning the 
redeemer's tendernefs to them, as it is expreffed by his gather- 

mm n John xi. 51. o Compare John x. 16. with 1 Pet' 
n. 25. p Ezek. xxxiv. 15, 16. 



Ijo The Tender nefs of Christ, ser. vi # 

ing them in his arms, and carrying- them in his bofom, and 
gently leading them. 

III. I will endeavour to mew, what abundantreafon there 
is to depend upon it, that the great fhepherd will deal in a 
yery tender manner with fnch. And then, 

IV. I wiLLdirecl to the proper improvement of the whole. 

May he who hath faid, comfort ye my people, 
enable me to do it in the molt effectual manner ! 
may he give me the tongue of the learned, to 
fpeak a word in feafon to them that are weary 
(p), and to appoint to the weeping and trembling 
ioul beauty tor allies, the oil of joy for mourn- 
ing, and the garment of praife tor the fpirit of 
heavinefs (q) ! 

I. I am to mention the eafe of fome chriltian% who may 
properly be conlldered, as represented by the lambs of the 
flock, or by meep that are with young, 

Now in the general, you know, thefe expref- 
fions may fignify all who are young and tender. 
You know, a young lamb is a very feeble crea- 
ture, and when deferted by its dam, if not 
affifted by the fhepherd, is in great danger of 
perifhing, and of breathing out its innocent life, 
almoft as foon as it has received it : and, as Jacob 
obferves (r), the fheep that are with young, or 
that have lately yeaned, are not capable of fuch 
fatigues as the other cattle ; but if over-driven 
fo much as one day, their tendernefs is fuch, 
that they would die. And therefore when our 
Lord was fpoken of under the charafter of a 
fhepherd, it was very juft, as well as very ele- 
gant, to ufe fuch figures as thefe, to reprefent ; 
thofe of his poepie who ftood in need of peculiar 

p Ifa. I. 4.- q Ifa. Ixi. 3. r Gen. x^xiii, 13, 



I; sER. vi. to the Lambs of his Fhck. 131 

compaffion and care. Now you may eafily 
apprehend, thofeare to be confidered as included 

j ier e 5 -who are of a tender age, — —or but of 

little (landing in religion, or whofe fpirits are 

! naturally feeble, or whofe circumftances are 

diftreisfui and calamitous, on account of any 
peculiar affliction, either of body, or of mind. 

1. It is evident, that " they who are of a tender age," 
may with peculiar propriety be called the lambs of the 
flock. 

They refemble lambs, in refpeft of their 
youth ; and in fomc degree likewife, on account 
of that innocence and Simplicity, for which our 
Lord fingled them out, to recommend them to 
the imitation of all his followers, and even of his 
apoftles, affuring them that they mull become 
like little children, if they would hope to enter 
into the kingdom of heaven (s). You, children, 
will therefore endeavour to mind what I fay this 
day ; for I am to fpeak to you ; to fpeak to you 
about the kindnefs and care of Chrift towards 
you. I affure you, I fpeak of it with pleafure : 
and furely you mould hear it with pleafure : and 
your little hearts mould even leap for joy, to 
think that a minifter mould be fent to addrefs 
himfelf to you, as the lambs of Chrift's flock. 
Oh that every one of you may indeed be fo ! 
you will hear, what a kind fhepherd you have, 
and how gracioufly he will lay you in his bofom J 

2. " They who are but of late Handing in religion, may 
- alfo be called the lambs of Chrift's flock." 

Th ough perhaps they are more advanced in 
Wge % than many others, they are but young in 
m s Matt, xviii. 3. 



132 The Tender nefs of CHRIST, SER. vl. 

grace, and in chriftian experience ; they are in 
the loweft form in Chrift's fchpol, and perhaps 
have much of the infirmity and the weaknefs of 
children. They have alio fome peculiar diffi- 
culties to ftruggle with from within, and often 
from without, which may render them more 
fenfible of thofe infirmities. Such are therefore 
called babes in Chriil (t) *, while chriftians of 
greater growth and experience, are called ftrong 
men (u). 

3. The language of the text may alfo with peculiar pro- 
priety be applyed to " thole, whole fpints are naturally 
very feeble and timorous." 

The conftitutions of different perfons are 
moll apparently various and the infirmities, 
which attend fome, render them the objects of 
peculiar compaflion. To them perhaps the 
graihopper is a burden (w) ; and what by others 
would hardly be fejt at all, quite overloads and 
depreiTes them. While fome of their fellow 
chriftians are as bold as the lion, thefe like the 
fearful lamb, ft art and tremble almoft at the 
making of a leaf. This exceffive tendernefs of 
the mind, which fhews itfelf often on very imali 
occaiioiis, is much more vifible where their 
eternal intercfts feem to be concerned. The 
importance of thofe intereils appears lo great, 
that they are even terrified with the view. A 
fadnefs of foul, which often feizes them, difpofes 
them to apprehend and fufpett the woril coi^ - 
cerning themfelves. And hence it may fo hap- 
pen, that an incapacity to attend long to the 
exercifes of devotion, ariiing from a natural 

t 1 Cor. iii. 1. u Rom. xv. 1. w geckf. xiL 5. 



SSR. VI* to the Lambs of his Flock* 133 

-eaknefs of nerves and fpirits, fhall appear to 

lem as a black mark of a foul fpiritually dead, 

ad be thought a fufficient ground for applying 
thcmf elves all thofe awful things, which the 

rpocrites in Sion have fo much reafcr to be 
raid of. Or when they view the difficulties 
the chriftian life, they are ready to fink under 

I e profpeft, and to conclude, that they fhall 
! fe that little good they have attained, and fhall 
• rely and fpeedily fall by the hands of fuch 
rmidable enemies. It is very probable, that 
z hearts of many who hear me, know in this 

efpeft their own bitternefs and burden (x) : 
it let them remember, it is known alfo by 
z companionate fhepherd of Ifrael ; and fhall 
gracioufly remembered, and confidered by 

Iiiflri. 

j.. The gracious promife in the text may be coniidereJ, 
as referring to " thofe. whole circumstances are pecu- 
liarly distressful, on account of afflictions, whether of 
body, or of mind." 

Who is there among you this day, that 
ireth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his 
-vant ; and yet walketh in darknefs, and hath 
light ? He is now called to truft in the 
me of the Lord, and to flay himfelf upon his 
od (y). What chriflians are there, whofe 
I ys are fpent in grief, and perhaps their years 
S %hing (z) ; fo that when their difappoint- 
\ ;nts or maladies, their temptations or defer- 
>ns prefs hard upon them, they are fcarce 
le to rife under the burden, and to believe 

s Prov. xiv. 10. y Ifa. 1. 10. z Pfal. xxxi, 10, 

H 



X34 The Tendernefs of CHRIST, ser. vp 

that they fhall be any longer fupported ? But 
on the contrary are ready to cry out, M Hath 
the Lore forgotten to be gracious ? hath he in 
anger {hut up his tender mercies (a) ? To them 
does this companionate Saviour appear, to lift 
up the hands that hang down, and to ftrength- 
en the feeble knees (b), to fweeten their forroWsj 
and filence their fears, to confirm their hopes, 
and awaken their joys. Let the young and the 
unexperienced, the timorous, and the afflitted, 
whofe defires arc towards him, and their hearts 
waiting upon him, let them all hear it with 
pleafure : If they can be fafe in the arms of 
Chrift, if they can be eafy in his bofom, if they 
can be chearful under his gentleft conduft, they 
may difmifs their anxieties, for to them, and to 
fuch as they are, does he particularly fpeak in 
jthefe gracious words of the text, afluring them, 
that he will gather them as the lambs in his 
arms, that he will carry them in his bofom, and 
that he will gently lead them, as ewes which 
are great with young. Which brings me, 

II. To confider what may be intimated con- 
cerning the Redeemer's tendernefs to them, as 
exprefled by thefe paftoral phrafes. 

All the expreffions do evidently fpeak a mod 
affectionate care ; and they do more particu- 
larly intimate,— that he will be ready to receive, 
: — protect,— and comfort them, — and that he 
will moderate their trials in proportion to their 
ftrength. The three former of thefe are implied 
m gathering them in his arms, and laying them 

a PfaL Ixsvii. p. b Heb. xii. 2. 



If S£R. VI. to the Lambs of his F/gcL 13$ 

t , in his bofom ; and the laft, in his gently lead- 

i J mg th.cfe that are with young;. 

A j 1. The text evidently declares " the readinefs of the 
Kleifed Jefus to receive the weakeft foul that applies 

! I 1 to hiij^,. 

M 1 He w^.gather them in his arms : that is, at 
"I leaft, his arms foall be open to them. For tho* 
N< the Lord be high, he hath lefpeft unto the 

ii lowly (c)$ and he will not defpife the humbleft 
; ; creature, that thinks himfelf moil beneath his 
I regards. —children, though they can do fo little 
1 for his fervice, though they hardly know how 
I to breathe out a prayer before him, or what 

bleflings they mould afk at his hands ; yet they 
lhall be welcome to him. He underftands their 
poor broken language ; and he hears it with 
pleafure.—— When the foul is but juft fetting 
out in religion, and feems, in a fpiritual fenfe, 
as helplefs as a new-born infant ; when there is 
little knowledge, and perhaps a very ftrong 
ftruggle between nature and grace ; he will not 
defpife the day of fmall things (d). When the 
chrillian is ready to fay the hardeft things a« 
gain ft himfelf, when a fenfe of former follies, 
and of prefent defects, lays him even in the duft 
at the foot of a Redeemer, this gracious fhep- 
herd will raife the drooping creature: And when 
he is ready to fay, Lord, I am, as I deferve to 
be, call out of thy fight (e) \ he will gather hirn 
among the lambs in his arms, he will open them 
wide to receive and embrace him.— Trembling 
fouls, hear it to your comfort: In all your 
weaknefs, under all your guilt, in the midit of 
c PfaL exxxviii; 6. d Zech. iv. 10. e Jonah ii. 4, 



136 The Tendernefs of CHRIST, ser. vi. 
your fear, in the moft of your fonows, you 
may come to Jefus with a holy boldnefs, and 
affure yourfelves, that he will not caft you out (f). 
That he will in no wife, that is, by no means, 
on no confideration whatfoever, do it. But, 

a. Th£ phrafe farther implies, " that he will provide for 
their fafety." 

And therefore it is added, that he will not 
only gather them in his arms, but carry them 
in his bofom ; which exprefles both the tender- 
nefs, and the continuance of his care for this 
purpofe. You know, when the poor trembling 
lamb is lodged, not only in the arms, but in the 
bofom of the ITiepherd, while it remains there, 
it is fo fecure, that the wild beaft, or the robber, 
mull conquer the (hepherd, before he can hurt 
the lamb. So when the feeble and fearful 
chrifhian hears the lions of hell, as- it were, 
roaring around him, and fees them juft ready to 
devour him, he may fly to this fan&uary, and 
defy thern ail ; for everlafting arms {hall be un- 
derneath him (g), and fhall compafs him round 
for his defence and fafety. I give unto my fheep 
eternal life, fays Chrift, in the moft refolute and 
determinate manner, and they mail never pe- 
rifh, neither mall any pluck them out of my 
hand (h.) " Reviving words P may the be- 
lieving foul fay 5 " for they allure me, that if 
I am in that hand, to which I have been fo fre- 
quently and fo folemnly committing my eternal 
all, nothing can deftroy me, that is not able to 
pppofe, and even to conquer Chrift, — that AL 



f John vi. 37. g Beut. xxxiii. 27. h John x, 28, 



§£R. VI P^i id the Lambs of his Flock. 137 

mighty Saviour, — whom, when he was on earth 
in feeble mortal clay, all the holts of hell, with 
their united malice arid rage, aflaulted in vain, 
and were fubdued and triumphed over by that 
very death, which they lo eagerly laboured to 
accomphfli •, for on this crofs he fpoiled prin- 
cipalities and powers, and made a fhew of theni 
openly (i)." 

It may properly be added here, that as the 
lamb canriot be deftroyed, fo neither can it be 
feduced, when in the fhepherd's arms. The 
foolifh creature while at a diftance from him, 
may wander it knows not whither, and lofe it- 
felf in fome barren and pathlefs wilderneis, 
where it cannot fubfift, and from whence it 
cannot return. And thus fair the humble be- 
liever will own the parallel too juft,— will own 
that he has again and again gone aftray like a 
loft lheep (k) : " Yet, Lord," may he add, " I 
adore thy faithful care in reducing me to thy 
fold again, and am encouraged this day to hope, 
thou wilt not fuffer me to perifh by my wari-* 
derings. Thine eye and thy hand, are my fe- 
curity, againft the prevalency of inward cor-* 
ruptions, as well as outward temptations ; and 
I truft, that neither the one, nor the other, fhali 
be able finally to feparate me from thy love (1), 
or to deprive me of the bleilings connected 
with it." 

3. Thf promue in the text farther implies, " that Chrift 
will coniult the eomfort of his people," as well as their 
iafety. 

He will carry the lambs in hisbofom; carry 
Col. ii-. 15. k Pfal. cxix> $70. 1 Pvom, viii. 3^. 

H s 



I38 *lhe Tender riefs of CHRIST, *£R. vi. 



them, when they are 10 weak, as not to be able 
to walk, like the reft of the flock. Or rather, 
here may be a beautiful allufion to a circum- 
ftance, which muft often occur in the place 
where Ifaiah wrote where it . might perhaps 
be ufual, when a new fallen lamb was expofed 
to the chilnefs of the morning or evening air, in 
a manner which might have been dangerous to 
its health or its life, that the fhepherd, when he 
faw it lying in this weak and helplefs condition, 
ihould take ft up into his bofom, and fold about 
it part of his long garment, which moil people 
wore in thofe eaftern countries ; and there the 
little helplefs creature would lie, not only fafe, 
but warm and eafy, till it was revived and 
itrengthened. So pleafantly, and delightfully, 
is the poor trembling foul lodged in the bofo oi 
of Chrift. It is made to rejoice in his love, as 
well as his power, and to own him as the 
chiefefh among ten thoufand, and altogether 
lovely (m). You know, the chriftian is def- 
cribed, as rejoicing in Chrift Jefus (n), and as 
glorying in him (o) : The weary mariner does 
not rejoice fo much when the danger and 
fatigues of his voyage are over, and he fees him- 
felf fafe at home, and meets the kindeft of his 
long abfent friends there as the burdened foul 
rejoices, when by faith he is led to a Redeem- 
er, and received with the affurances of his love 
and grace. Nor wou]d he exchange that foft 
and companionate bofom, for the choiceft and 
fweeteft breafts of worldly confolation, of which 



m Cant v, 10, i-tf. n Phil, iii 13. o 0a;. vi. 16, 



SEE. VI. to the Lambs of his Fleck.* 139 

the (inner may fuck, but can never be fatisfied 
from them. 

4, The promife in the text muft farther intimate, that 
Christ will accommodate the f< trials of the weak Chris- 
tian to his strength," and will lay no more upon him, 
than he mail be able to bear. 

Therefore it is faid he will gently lead thofe 
that are with young : As the fhepherd is care- 
ful, in fuch a circumftance, not to over-drive 
the cattle, left both young and old be deftroyed 
(p). God, fays the apoftle is faithful, who will 
not fuffer you to be tried above what ye are 
able ; but will with the trial make a way foy 
your efcape, that ye may be able to bear it (q). 
In this inftance is the tendernefs of Chrift re- 
markable, and his wifdoni too. As a father 

would not crufh his child by a heavy burden, 
but lets him bear what is proportionable to his 
years and ftrength : till at laft, by infenfible de- 
grees, he grows capable of carrying with eafe 
and pleafure, what would before have over- 
whelmed him : Thus does Chrift deal with the 
feeble chriftian. He calls him out to eafier du- 
ties, to lefs formidable combats, to lighter af- 
flictions firft : He ftays his rough wind in the 
day of the eaft wind (r) j and thus trains him 
up to pafs, with fortitude and chearfulnefs, 
through thofe more trying fcenes, which he 
would before have trembled to behold in a dif- 
tant profpeft. 

All thefc comfortable and important parti- 
culars feem naturally contained in the words of 



p £en. xxxiii. 13. q 1 Cor. x. 13. 



r If a. xxvii, S. 



140 The Tendernefscf CllRiST, ser. vi« 

the text. You eafily apprehend, that many of 
them, as applied to the great ftiepherd of fouls, 
might have been confirmed by reafonings and 
Scriptures, which I have here omitted : But I 
was cautious not too far to anticipate what is to 
be offered under the third general, where I am 
to (hew, how much u reafon there is to expe£t, 
that the blefTed Jefus will exercife this gentle 
and affectionate care, towards the feeble of the 
flock." The fubject is too copious, to be dif- 
cuffed, or entered upon, in thefe few remaining 
moments. Let me, therefore, at prefent con- 
clude with reminding you, that all is already 
proved by the authority of the text and I hope, 
the truth of it has been fealed, by the experi- 
ence of many that hear me this day. May it be 
fealed, by the experience of all ! and all wilit then 
fay, as furely as fome of us can, that when we 
have heard the molt that can be faid of the grace 
of a Redeemer, and when the bolder! or the loft- 
eft figures are ufed to illuftrate it the half has not 
been told us (s). How much more {hall we fay it, 
when we come to that fold above ? To which 
may his mercy at length conduct us, in fuch 
ways as his wifdom fhall chufe ! And fupport* 
ed by his arms, and cherifhed in his bofom, we 
mall purfue them with pleafure* Amen* 



s 1 Kings x, 7. 



SERMON VII. 



Proofs of Christ's tenderness, and the inv 
provement we should make of it. 

Isa. si. II. 

He fljall feed his flock like a Jhepherd ; he Jhall ga- 
ther the lambs with his arm, and carry them in 
his bofom, and fljall gently lead thofe that are 
nvith young. 

Tt mould certainly be our care, when we are 
handling fuch figurative fcriptures as thefe, that 
we do not offer violence to them, and force 
them, by a multitude of fanciful accommoda* 
tions, to fpeak what it was by no means perti- 
nent to the defign of the facred writer to have 
faid. Yet on the other hand, it appears to me 
but a grateful feturn to the divine condefcen- 
£ or. ,in ufing fuch language, to dwell attentively 
on mages, with which God is fometimes 
pleafed to clothe his addreffes to us ; that we 
may ufe them to fuch purpofes, as feem to have 
been intended by them. Especially is fuch a 
care as this reafonable, when the figure is not 
expreiTed in a fmgle word, but divcrfified and 
adorned with fuch a variety of expreiTion and 
imagery, as we find in the text. In fuch a cafe, 
itj is rit, that the beauties of every part mould 
traced : And there is this evident advantage fa 



142 Proofs of Christ s Tenckrtiefs. ser. yiv 

it, that it may not only make way for the eafier 
entrance of important truths into the mind ; 
but may give room to preient the rhoft familiar 
and accu Homed thoughts, in fuch a diver fry of 
drefs, at different times, as may make them 
more pleafing to the mind, than they might 
probably be, if repeated in the pia'ineli "language, 
fo often as the importance cf them requires 
they mould be infilled upon. 

Perhaps it is for this reafon, among ethers, 
that fuch a variety of metaphorical and allego- 
rical language is ufed, both in the Old and New 
Teftament, in describing the offices and cha- 
racters of the great Redeemer. And for this 
reafon alfo it is, that when fuch paffages have 
occurred, as the fubjecl: of our public medita- 
tions, I have thought it more proper to dwell 
pretty largely on the various claufes of the text, 
than immediately to fix on feme common place 
in divinity, which might eafily have been intro- 
duced, and to treat it in a fyfteraatical form. I 
blefs God, that the attention with which fuch 
difcourfes have generally been heard, and the 
good effects with which they have been often 
attended, have encouraged ,me to purfue this 
method myfelf, and to recommend it to others - y 
though fome may reckon it a part of a folid and 
rational tafte, to think very meanly of it. 

With thefe views I have entered on the fub- 
jecl:, in the following method. Having proved, 
that the words refer to the Lord Jeius Chriit, 
the great Shepherd of the Sheep (a), I have, 



a Heb. xili 20. 



ser. vii. Proofs of CHRIST'S Tendernefs. 143 

I. Enumerated the cafes of various forts of perfons,^ 
whom we may fuppofe to be reprefenied by the lambs o* 
the flock, or by thofe that are with young/they being thofe 
that require peculiar tendernefs. 

And here I have mentioned,— — thofe who 

are of a tender age,-: or of a fhort (landing in 

religion thofe, whofe fpirits are naturally 

feeble ; -and thofe, whofe circumftances are 

peculiarly calamitous, on account of any heavy 
affliction, either of body or of mind, whether 
arifing from providential difpenfations, or from 
the hidings of God's face, or from the aflault of 
fpiritual enemies. So that chriftians in fuch 
circumftances as thefe, will, I hope, confider 
themfelves, as peculiarly intereited in the com- 
fortable things, which are now farther to be laid 
before you. And may the blefTed Spirit apply 
the confolation to each of their fouls ! 

II. I have alfo confidered the Redeemer's tendernefs to 
fuch, as expreffed by " gathering them with his arm, lay- 
ing them in his bofom, and gently leading them." 

And here I obferved, that thefe gracious and 
affectionate words might be intended to exprefs, 
—his readinefs to receive,— to proteft,— and to 
comfort them ; and his care to moderate their 
exercifes and burdens in proportion to their 
ftrength. Thefe are very important particulars, 
and moft evidently fuited to the neceffities and 
defires of the feeble chriftian. I hope therefore 
you will attend with pleafure, while I now 
proceed, 

III. To fhew what abundant reafon there is to believ$, 
that the great Shepherd will deal in this tender mariner ; 
that he will thus " gather the lambs with his arm, and car- 



144 Proofs of Chris t's Tendernefs. ser. vir, 

ry them m his bofom, and gently lead thoie that are wit! 
young.*' 

As the lamb fometimes fears the fhepherd 
and is ready to flee from him, when he corner 
towards it with the kindeft defigns : So it is al- 
fo evident from experience, that the comfort oi 
the chriftian is often much impaired, for warn 
of that confidence in the care and tendernefs oi 
a Redeemer, which is fo reafonable, as weii a* 
fo delightful, that one would wonder it fhoulc 
after all be fo very deficient, even in the minds 
of thofe, who are no ftrangers to his word, and 
who have themfelves tailed of his grace. Per- 
nut me therefore at prefent to argue it, — from 
the general character under which he appears, 
« — from the reprefentations both of the prophets 
and apoftles,- — from his own declarations as re- 
corded by the evangelifts, — and from the expe- 
rience of thofc, who have committed themfelves 
to him. 

I. Wf may argue this grace and tendernefs of Chrift 
" from the general character tinder which he appears, 
as the Redeemer and Saviour of his people*" 

Is not this a character full of gentlenefs and 
goodnefs ? Is it not inftead of ten thoufand ar- 
guments to prove, that if he pitied us in that 
low eftate, in which he at firfl found us, his 
mercy towards us will endure for ever (b) ? 
View our blefled Redeemer in the abafement of 
his abode among men : view him in the agonies 
in which he finiflied the lon^ fcene of his for- 
tows and fufferings and then fay, what but 



b Pfal. cxxxvi. 23. 



SER. vii. Proofs of Qhrist'3 Tendernefs. 145 

love brought him from heaven, and kept him 
on earth ? What but love ftretcheti him on the 
crofs, and laid him in the grave ? And can any 
expreffion of tendernefs be too great to be ex- 
pected, after fuch amazing efre£ts of it have al- 
ready been experienced ? Surely, as he himfelf 
argues, u greater love hath no man than this, 
that a man mould lay down his life for his 
friends (c)" : But, ;\s the apoftle juftly oWerves, 
his love is commended towards' us, it is fet off 
by this important circumftance, in that while 
we were yet finners, Chrift died for us (d) : 
And how chearfully may we depend upon it, 
that if when we were enemies we were recon- 
ciled by his death, we {hall now by his life ob- 
tain compleat falvation (e) ; and his living care 
will accomplifh, what his dying love has begun ? 
All the bleffed coiifequences I have already 
mentioned, and a long train of others, follow 
from this happy principle. He has gracioufiy 
aflumed the character and title of a Shepherd "; 
and furejy that name implies all the particulars 
which we have now been reprefentmg to you. 
His word ? ' you know, fets a mark of infamy 
upon thofe ihepherds, that " have not ftrength- 
ened the difeafed, nor healed the fick, nor bound 
up that which was broken, nor brought again 
that which was driven away, nor fought that 
which was loft \ but who hath ruled with force 
and cruelty (f)". Surely the good Shepherd 
will not be like thefe: Surely, if he will feed his 
flock like fuch a fhepherd, he cannot fail of ga- 

c John xv, 1-2. d Rom. v. S. e Rom. v. in. £ Frek 



146 Proofs of Christ's Tendernefs. ser. vir, 
thering the lambs with his arm, and carrying 1 
them in his bofom, and of being very tender of ! 
the lives of thofe, for whom his own life was 
given. 

2. We may argue the tendernefs and grace of the redeemer, 
" from thofe exprefs testimonies which are borne to it in 
the prophetic writings." 

This is mentioned as a remarkable part t)f 

his character, when confidered not only in his 1 

paftoral office, but alfo in his royal dignity. To t 

him do thofe words of Zechariah refer, rejoice t 

greatly, O daughter of Zion-, fhout, O daughter < 

of Jerufalem ; for behold thy King cometh un- t 

to thee : he is juft, having falvation, and lowly, j 
and riding, not as other princes, perhaps, on a 
managed horfe, or in a fplendid triumphal 

chariot j but according to the fimplicity of more j 

atitient days, when princes appeared amongfi \ 

their fubjects, as fathers amonglt their children \ \ 

fo {hall he come, riding on an afs, even upon a \ 

colt, the fole of an afs (g). Thus too Ifaiah in- J 

troduces God as fpeaking of him, in thofe j 

remarkable words (h), which are alfo applied to 2 
him by the cvangelift i), as the former are (k) t 
behold my fervant whom I uphold, mine elect 

in whom my foul is delighted ;- he foal! not \ 

cry, nor lift up, nor caufe his voice to be heard j 

in the ftreets : a bruifed reed mall he not break, c 

and fmoaking fiax mall he not quench, till he . 

fhall bring forth j udgment unto truth or victory ; ^ 

that is, till he perfect his gracious defign of ma- v 
king righteoufnefs and truth victorious over all 
oppofition, Therefore is he fpoken of, as a moft 

g*Zecb. ix. p. h Ifa. xlii. 1 — 3. i Matt. xii. 1-8. 
k Matt. xxi. <$. 



ser. vii. Proofs of Chrises Tendernefs* 147 

proper perfon to accomplifli the raoft com- 
pafiionate purpofes of the divine goodnefs ; and 
is reprefented as rejoicing in the thought of his 
bearing ftich a commimon, in thole gracious 
words, (which were the foundation of his firft 
public difcourfe, and which he fo folemnly 
applied to himfelf in the fynagogue of Nazareth 
(1) ;) the fpirit of the Lord God is upon me, be- 
caufe the Lord hath anointed me to preach good 
tidings to the meek, he hath fent me to bind up 
I the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the 
captives, and the opening of the prifon to them 
! that are bound ; to appoint unto them that mourn 
in Zion, to .give unto them beauty for allies, 
1 the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of 
: praife for the fpirit of heavinefs (m). So exactly 
i does our Lord anfwer the lovely charafter of a 
1 righteous and peaceful fovereign, drawn by 
'! David (n)-in thole lait words of his, (which 
! many fuppofe ultimately to refer to the Mefiiah,) 
I he (hall be as the light of the morning, when 
I the fun rifeth, even as a morning without clouds ; 
] as the tender grafs fpringeth out of the earth, 
' by clear mining after rain. And again (o), he 
, {hall judge the poor of the people, and fave thee 
children of the needy : and his people mall be 
j fo refremed by his tender care, that he fnall 
I come down like rain upon the new mown grafs, 
I and like mowers that water the earth \ he mail 
deliver the needy, when he crieth ; the poor alfo, 
and him that hath no helper : he mall fpare the 
poor and needy and (hall fave the fouls of the 

1 Luke iv 17, 18. m Ifa. Ixi. 1, 3. n 2 Sam. sxi];. 4 
Pfal, te^i. 4, 6, 12, 13, 14. 

I 2 



148 Proofs of CHRISES Tendernefs. ser vn- 

needy : he (hall redeem their fouls from deceit 
and violence, and precious {hall their blood be 
in his fight. Many parallel expreffions might 
be added to thefe ; but the following heads are 
too copious to allow of a farther enlargement 
upon this. 

3. I might largely argue the tendernefs and giaee of 
Chrift, " from his conduct on earth in the days of his 
flefh." 

The time would fail me, {hould I attempt to 1 
enumerate Jialf the particular circumftances of 
it, that tend to illnftrate this part of his 
character : I mufh only feleft a few, which are * 
the mod remarkable. And judge you, whether 1 
all that is foretold of him in the text, and in 
the other prophetical paflages I have been refer- 
ring you to, was not amply and fweetly accom- 
plished in them. 1 

It is faid, he will gather the lambs in his 1 
bofom that is, (as I have been telling you above) 
the young and the weak {hall be welcome to 
him : and did^not our Lord fufficiently (hew that : 
they were fo, when the little children were 1 
brought unto him ? The difciples forbad them, as 
thinking it was beneath the dignity of fo great 
a Prophet, as their mafter was, to trouble him- E 
felf about them. But obferve it, children, (for I 
believe it was in part recorded for your fakes,) 
Jefus was greatly difpleafed with his difciples, 
that they {hould think he had no tendernefs for j 
fuch little creatures as you \ and he faid, fuffer 
little children to come unto me, and forbid them j 
not, for 0/ fuch is the kingdom of t^od : and he | 
took them up in his arms ; and laid his handf ! 



ser, vii. Proofs of CHRIST'S Tetiderne/s. Iaq 

upon them, and blefied them (p) : do you not 
here fee the ,text rnoft beautifully illuftrated, 
and fulfilled ? Do you not here fee the great 
fhepherd, gathering the lambs in his arms, and 
laying them in his bofom ? — And does he not 
invite others alfo to that foft and pleafant repofe, 
in thofe companionate words, which iurely none 
of you are fuch ftrangers in lirael as not to 
know t Come unto me all ye that labour, and 
are heavy laden, and I will give you reft (q) : 
And he that cometh unto me, I will in no wile 
cafh out (r). Did he not alfo exprefs a very 
gracious regard to fuch, when he fo peculiarly 
recommends the care of them to Peter, juit 
when he was leaving the world, taking that pe- 
culiarly affecting opportunity of alluring him, 
not only that it was his will that they mould be 
regarded, but alfo that an affectionate care of 
them was the molt acceptable inftance, which 
Peter, and (by a parity of reafon) his other mi- 
nifters, could give of their love to him ? ioveft 
thou me ? if thou doll, feed my lambs, and feed 

my (heep (s . Can we then imagine, that he 

himfelf will fail in his care of any of them ? 
Efpecially when we confider the initances of his 
tenuernefs, to fome who were not of his fold, 
as well as to many who were ; — to one, in whom 
though he faw only fome feeble traces and ima- 
ges or goodnefs, yet it is faid, that Jefus be- 
holding him, loved him ^t; \ — and to multitudes 
over whom he wept, becaufe they obftiaately 

' p Mark x. 13 — 1^. q Matt. xi. :3. r John vi. 37. 
s John xxi. 15, 17. t Mark x. 2;. 

* 3 • 



150 Proofs of CUEIST'S Ttndernefs. SER. vil. 

refufed to be gathered in, and knew not the 
things belonging to their peace (u) Again, 

The text tells us> he fnall gently lead thofe 
that are with young : that is, he {hall accom- 
modate his conduct to the weaknefs and infir- 
mities of his people : And did not our Lord ex- 
prcfs this tendernefs, when he taught his fol- 
lowers, as they were able to bear it ( w) ; and 
was careful not to difcourage them at full, by 
unneceflary feverities, left it mould be like put-/ 
ting new wine into old bottles (x), which might 
be eafily broke by the fermentation of it ? — And 
did not alfo this companionate ihepherd appear 
ready to bind up the broken, and to heal the 
(ick, when he fo gracioufly excufed the weak- 
nefs of his difcipies, though they fell afleep at a 
time, when one would have thought the agonies 
of their Lord fhould have turned them all into 
wakeful attention, and affectionate fympathy ? 
Yet inftead of fever e reproaches, we find this kind 
apology in the mouth of their neglected injured 
mafter, the fpirit indeed is willing, but the flefh 
is weak (y). — —To add no more on this head, 
it is well wort:, our obft rvation, that when Peter 
had fo fhamefully denied him, and all the reft 
of the Apo flies had foffaken him, even when 
he might rnoft reafonably have expected their 
kindeit affiftance, he does not after his refurrec- 
tion exprefs any keen a:rd pailionate reientments, 
but on the contrary, all is mildnefs and iweef- 
nefs. At his fir ft appearance to Mary Mag- 
dalen, he fays to her, go to my brethren, and 

u Luke six. 41, 42. w Mark iv. 33. x Matt. i*. 17* 
y Matt. xxvi. 41. 



ser. vii. Proofs of CHRIST^ Tendernefs. 151 

fay unto them, I afcend unto my Father and 
your Father, and to my God and your God (z). 
And a few moments after, when appearing to 
the other women in their return from the 
fepuichre, go tell my "brethren, fays he, that 
they go into Galilee, and there mail they fee 
me (a;. He does not fay, "go and tell thofe 
cowardly perfidious creatures, that God has not 
abandoned me, though they fo meanly did it." 
He does not fay, <l go tell that perjured traitor, 
who even in my very fight and hearing difo wiv- 
ed me and abjured me :" but, " go tell my 
brethren." And left Peter mould think himfclf 
excluded from the meflage, as peculiarly un- 
worthy fo kind a name, the angel, no doubt by 
our Lord's particular direction, names thai poor 
penitent exprefsly, and fays, go tell his difciples 
and Peter, that he is rifen (b) : as if it had been 
faid, " let that humble mourner know, that his 
dear mailer is rifen, and in the midft of his 
triumphs gracioufly remembers him, and fends 
him thefe glad tidings thus early, as a token 
mat all is forgiven." Gracious fhepherd ! who 
would not love thee ? Who would not imme- 
diately ceate his wanderings, to feek a retreat 
in thy cotnpaflionate bofom ? 

4. ^ijECompaffion of our Redeemer is fhilfarther illuftrateJ 
by thofe rfeprefentatigns of it, which are made by the 
Apoltlcs, in what they have written fince his afcenfion 
into glory. 1 ' * 

You well know, that they were under the 
direction of the fpirit of Jefus^ and had the 
mind oi Chrjft [c in fo perfect, a manner, that 

7. John fx. 17. a Matt, xxyiii. 10. b Mark xvi. 7. 
c 1 Cor. ii. 16. 

i 4 



I Proofs of CHRIST's Tendernefs. ser. vii. 

what they fay is in effect fpoken by Chrift him- 
felf. Now there are many paflages. in their 
writings, which loudly fpeak, and tenderly 
illuftrate, the companion of his heart. 

The Apoftles fometimes exprefsly aflert it ; 
and fometimes they write, as taking it for grant- 
ed, as a thing known, allowed, and indeed felt 
by every chriftian.— It is frequently aflerted by 
the author of the Epiftle to the Hebrews, in very 
exprefTive language. We are allured, that we 
have not an High-Prieft, who cannot be touched 
with the feeling of our infirmities, but who was 
himfelf in all points tempted like as we are (d). 
And more than that, we' are aflured, that he 
fubmitted to the abatements of an incarnate 
ftate, on purpofe that his fufferings might teach 
him a due fympathy : It behoved him in all 
things to be made like unto his brethren, that 
he might be a merciful and a faithful High- 
Prieft, in things pertaining unto God for in 
that he himfelf hath fuffered, being tempted, he 
is able to fuccour them that are tempted (e) : as 
the Jewifh High-Priefts being themfelves com- 
pared with infirmities, could have Gornpaffion 
on the ignorant, and fuch as were out of the 
way (f;. — In other places, the companion of 
Chrift is referred to, as univerfally known, and 
fo great as to fervefor a proverbial exprefiion of 
the greateft kindnefs Thus, when conjugal 
affection is recommended from the confideration 
of both being one flefh, the Apoftle adds, no 
man ever yet hated his own fiefh, but nourifheth 
and cherifheth it, even as the Lord the Church 

d Heb. iv. 15. e Heb. ii. 17, 18. f Eeb. v. 



ser. Vii. Proofs ef CHRIST'S Tendemefs. ijj 

(g) : plainly intimating, that a man cannot have 
a more tender care of the members of his own 
body, than Chriit has of his church and people* 
And elfewhere the Apoftle conjures Chriitians, 
by the bowels of Christ (h), by the meeknefs and 
gentlenefs of Christ (i) \ and pleads, if there be 
any confolation in Christ (k) . We can hardly 
conceive any aflertions fo expreffive, as fuch 
oblique infiauations and appeals as thefe. 

Yet I cannot omit that engaging illustration 
of this companionate care of the great fhepherd, 
which is to be found in thole Epistles which he 
lent to the churches in Afia, by the hand of 
John, after he was received to the glories of his 
exalted state. By thefe it appears, \±ow distinct- 
ly he attended to the concerns of each of thole 
churches, and therefore, no doubt, of each par- 
ticular foul which constituted them ; how dili- 
gently he obferved, who were flouriihingj and 
who were declining •, that he might addrefs them 
with encouragements, or admonitions* fuited ta 
their refpeclive circumstances. It plainly ap- 
pears, that notwithstanding all their peculiar 
advantages and obligations, there were many 
feeble and distempered fouls among them, and 
fome that were called out to very laborious 
iervices, and hazardous trials. Let me intreat 
you to obferve, how the bleffed Jefus lifts up 
the hands which were hanging down, and 
strengthens the feeble knees {i). He faw, that 
the church of Ephefus had left its first love (m); 
— that the church of Sardis had a name to live, 

g Eph. v. 29. h Phil, i, 8, it Cor. x, x. k Phil, it. i< 
I Heb. xiL m Rev. ii. <i, 

1 5 



154 Proofs of C.I!RlS7's Tendernefs. see., til. 

but was dead (n) ; yet that there was a little 
handful among ft them, who had net defiled 
their garments (o) that the church of Phila- 
delphia had but a little ftrength (p) \ — and that 
of Laodicea was neither cold nor hot (q,: yet a 
gracious redeemer does not immediately diiown 
them ; but on the one hand, kindly admonifnea 
them of the danger there was, left growing 
apoftacy and degeneracy mould provoke him to 
remove their candlefLick out of its place, — to 
caft them out as loathfome,--*-or to wound them 
with the fword of his mouth, that is, his word 
(r) ; ~ and on the other hand, he encourages 
them to greater fidelity and zeal, by a promife 
of eating of the fruit of the tree of life (s;, — of 
being cloathed in white raiment, — of being con- 
ferred before the Father and his holy Angels (t), 
— -and of fitting down withfairrfy on his, victorious 
throne (ti) — And as for his faithful Smymeans, 
he not only highly applauds their former con- 
duct, but animates them againft the terrors of 
imprifonment and ether tribulations, by alluring 
them, he would give them a crown of life (w . 
■ — And he fails not to tell the Philadelphians, 
that fmee, weak as they were, they had kept has 
word, he alfo would keep them from the ap- 
proaching hour of temptation, until at length 
he made them pillars in the houfe of God above, 
and gave them a new name in his holy city (x).- 
You will pleafe to take a more particular view 
of thefe epiftles at your ieifure ; and you will 

n Rev. iii. i. o Chap. iii. 4. p Chap. iii. S. q Chap. 
Hi. 15. r Rev. ii. 5. 16. iii. 16. s Chap. ii. 7. t Chap, 
iii. 5. u Chap. iii. zi* w Chap. ii. 10. x jQfctap. in. 
10, 12. 



seh. VII. Proof of Christ's 'Tendernefs* 155 

fee, in how amiable a manner the good fhepherd 
appeaj-s in them, laying the lambs in his bofom, 
and gently leading thoie that arc with young. 

5. I might farther argue this grace and tendernels of our 
Lord Jeius, " from the experience of thoie, who have 
been thus gathered, and cherifhed, and conducted by 
kim." 

This being fa£t, ought certainly to have its 
weight \ and how little ioever it may be regard- 
ed 'by thole who are ftrangers to it, yet to the 
happy foul who has found and felt this 'care, 
and with the mod delightful renin tailed that 
the Lord is gracious (y), it will be initead of ten 
thoufand arguments. How many, when ready 
to link under their forrows and their fears, have 
looked unto him, and been lightened (z), have 
found their fears difperfed, and their hopes 
eftablifhed, their ftrength renewed, and their 
joys iukindied ? The effect is real, evident, and 
ireq.uent : and if we enquire into the immediate 
caule, we mail frequently find it to be the pro- 
mifes of his word, uttered by Chrilt himlelt, or 
recorded by fuch as had their initrudhons and 
authority from him, But if it be farther, de- 
manded, whence it is, that the fame promifes do 
at fome times imprefs the mind fo much more 
more powerfully than at others, though as 
diftin,£tly remembered, and as fimiy believed ? 
J will venture to fay, how enthufiaitical foever 
fome may imagine it, that the molt natural 
reafon feems to me to be this : the bieffed fpirit 
of God, whole oflice it is to (hew to believers 
the things of Chrilt (a), does fometimes difplay 

y 1 Pet. ii. 3. z Pfal. xxxiv. 5. a John xvi. 14, 15 



156 Proafs of Christ's Tendermfs. ser. vii. 

the promifes before their eyes with uncommon 
fweetnefs and energy, at the fame time fealing 
to the foul its own intereft in them j and from 
hence arifes fo fublime an<i fo holy a joy and 
ftrength, that the chriftian obferving its nature 
and tendency, cannot doubt its original. And 
I evidently fee 5 and new inftances of it are daily 
ariiing, that fuch fecret communications from 
above are the mod effectual fupport of many 
good men, under the greateft inward difcourage- 
ments, and the mod painful ccnrlicls with their 
fpiritual enemies. Now thefe fupports being 
derived from the blerTed Spirit, are to be confi- 
dered as proceeding from Chrift ; fince it is moft 
evident from the whole tenor of Scripture, that 
Chrift is the great head', from whom believers 
derive the influences of this Spirit, which are 
therefore called the fupply of trie Spirit of Jefus 
Chrift (b). So that every new inftance of fuch 
refrefhments and confolations as thefe, is an ad- 
ditional experimental proof of the tendernefs 
and grace of a Redeemer. 

Nor is there any juft objection againft it, 
arifing from the many inftances, in which he has 
permitted excellent perfons to go on, for a con- 
fiderable time, in the bitternefs of their fouls, 
without any fenfible manifeftatioiis of his care 
and favour. We are to judge nothing before 
the time (c) ; and furely the fidelity and kind- 
fiefs of the blefTed Jefus is fufheiently approved, 
if, though in the moft fecret and imperceptible 
manner, he fupports his people in the mid ft of 
their greateft difficulties, fo as to prevent their 
b Phil. i. 9. ci Cor. iv. £ 



ser. vii. Pro:fs of Christ's Tendef^ffii 157 

being feparated from him, till he fafely conducts 
them to the heavenly world, and there fhews 
them the reafon of ail their forrows, and comforts 
them infinitely more than in proportion to them 
all. And that he does fo, appears evident to 
me, not only from the promifes and declarations 
of his word, which have been referred to under 
the former head, but alfo from tne obfervation 
of tacts, as far as it is pollible for a train of 
particular obfervatibns, to confirm fuc'h a general 
ailcrtion. 

I must here take the liberty to fay, ^becaufe 
I think it my duty on this occafion publicly 
to teftify it) that though for my age I have had 
a confidernble opportunity of making my re- 
marks on various cafes of perfons under ipiri- 
tual diftrefs, yet excepting a very few inilances 
of evident diitraclion, , which none can reafon- 
ably imagine to have afrecled their eternal ftate, 
I cannot recollect any fingle inilance, in which 
the humble foul has (eemeti to be finally deferted 
by the great ihepherd Many, who have been 
under ftrong convictions and agonies of mind, 
have, indeed, forgot their refolutions, taken up 
often in an apparent dependance on themfelves, 
and have returned with the dog to his vomit, 
and with the fow that was wathed to her 
wallowfeg in the mire (d). Many who have 
talked loudly of their extraordinary communica- 
tions from above, and defpifed others who have 
been lefs confident, have quickly appeared felf- 
deceiving hypocrites, and have been left by foul 
mifcarriages to bring a fcandal on themielvesj 
d 1 Pet. ii. 22. 



158 Proofs of CHRISES Tendernefs* ser. vn. 

and on religion too. But I cannot remember, 
that I ever met with a fingle perfon, who ap- 
peared, as one of the lambs of Chrift's flock, 
humble under a fenfe of fin, and cordially dif- 
pofed to put himfelf under the care of Chrift as 
the great fhepherd, who after feeking and wait- . 
ing on him, has been either driven away by 
terror, or finally feduced into foul-ruining errors 
or crimes, even by the mo ft artful deceivers. 
Many of them have perhaps for a confiderable 
time gone on weeping and trembling ; but they 
have kept their hold even to the lalt, and died 
with much more comfort than they lived. 
Others have, for a long courfe of after-life, found 
their confolations as great, as ever their forrows 
had been : and after all their fears, many are 
to this day going on in a fteady calm, as know- 
ing whom they have believed (e) \ while others, 
who I doubt not are equally fafe, are faying, if 
we perifh, we will perifh at his feet ; but fo for I 
as I can recollect 1 have never myfelf feen any 
of fuch a character, who have fallen into a final 
apoftacy, or died in fuch circumitances, as to 
leave room to fear that their fouls were loft , 
and I have heard of few cafes, which bear fuch 
an appearance. — —Let all theft remarks and 
arguments be attentively eonfidered, and then 
fay, whether the grace and tendernefs of a Re- 
deemer be not as dearly proved, and as firmly 
eitablifhed, as even the lambs of his flock could . 
reafonabiy defire. And now, 

IV. Let me conclude the difcourfe, with 
hinting at the purpofes to which it may be im- 
proved, 

e 2 Tim. i. 12. 



SER. vii. Proofs of ChR2ST % s Tendcrnefs. 159 

And furely the furvey we have been taking 
\ of the tendeineis of Chnft as a fhepherd, may 
naturally lead us to fome fuch reflections as 
thefe. 

: 1. M How amiable does our blefled redeemer appear' 
vrhen we contemplate him under fuch a character 1" 

Such fentiments of humanity are wrought in- 
to our very natures* that we cannot but love 
! any perfon, efpeciaily one of diftinclrion, who 
condefcends to the weak and the helplefs, and 
tenderly aecomrriodateshirnfelf to their necefiities 
and diitrefTes. You honour, and you love, a 
man of genius and learning and eminence in 
life, who frill lay a fide other more iplendid 
employments^ that he might inftruft children, 
or oy kind and affectionate converfe, even with 
tlie pooreft creature that applies to him, may 
eafe the burdens of the forrowful fpirit. If a 
mini tier of fuch a character has been remarka- 
ble for; his readinefs to fuch fervices, and for his 
diligent and iuccefsful application to them, 
though it be plainly the peculiar duty of his 
office to abound in them, he is julily refpetted 
while he lives, and his name and memory are 
dear and precious to furvivors : yet this is only 
thecondeiceahen of one worm to another. How 
much mere reafta have we, to reverence and 
love the compamoaate jefus, the prince of 
glory? who has io long borne, and fo tenderly 
mid faithfully executed this kind office, and 
bears and* executes it to this day ! How many 
difeafed fouls has he healed, how many weak 
hands hath he (lengthened, how many weeping 
eyes has he dried ; hew many trembling hearts 



160 Proofs of CHRIST'S Te?ider?2cfs* ^er. vii. 

has he fupported and revived ! Let our love and fi 
our pra-ifes afcend to this great common bene- t 
factor, for the fhare which others have had in I 
his goodnefs. 

But muft the reflection (top here ? Are not 
we ourfelves in the number of thoi'e obliged 1 
creatures ? And (hall we not feel, and own the 
obligation ? — We fhould furely be a burden to 
ourielves if we had no fenfe of the kindnefs of ; 
thofe, who fupported us in our feeble infancy ; « 
who then bore us yi their arms, and cherifhed i 
us in their bofoms ; who watched over cur flip- ( 
pery Heps, and added the more important care 
of forming our opening minds to knowledge and 
virtue. And when we have felt the burden of 
more advanced days preffing hard upon us, and 
heavinefs in our hearts has ma<Je them ftoop (f) , 
if fome cordial fympathizmg friend has glad- 
dened them with good and comfortable words 
(g) ; how kindly have we taken it, and how 
thankfully have we acknowledged it ? But, oh 
bleiTed Jefus, what were the guides of our in- 
fancy, or what the companions and comforters 
of our more advanced years, in companion of 
what thou haft been to us ! " What foe vejr I now 
am/' may the foul fay, " if I am thine, I was 
once a helplefs lamb in thy flock j and how 
much am I indebted to that paftoral care of 
thine, of which I have now been hearing ? Hadft' 
thou not purfucd me in my wanderings, I had 
been utterly loft : hadft thou not guafded me in 
thine arms, I had long fmce been devoured : 
hadft thou not cherifhed me in thy bofcm, my 
t Prgv. xii. 25. g Zech. i. 13. 



ser . vii. Proofs of Christ's Tendernefs. 161 

very heart had been broken. And to -this very 
day, what were I without thy care afnd favour ! 
Thus let us look back to former days, and the 
years of more ancient rimes; and as God reminds 
his people, how he took them by their arm=;, and 
taught them to go (h), as he mentions with an 
agreeable reflection the kindnefs of their youth, 
| and the love of their efpoufals (i), let us this 
day gratefully commemorate his kindnefs to us 
in our youth, and when our fouls were firft 
efpoufed to him. 

2. " How ready fliould we be, to intimate this amiable 
character cf our redeemer, and after his example, to fhew 
a tender regard to the feeble of the nock !" 

We who are minifters fhotild efpecially do it, 
if we would approve our fidelity to the great 
fhepherd, and finally fland accepted in his fight. 
Oblerve, I intreat you, my younger brethren, 
(for my reiation to forrie of you, not only allows, 
but requires me, to fpeak with peculiar freedom 
to you, x obferve in how awful a manner the great 
God declares his clifpleafure againft thofe ihep- 
herds who have neglected the care which I now 
recommend. (k) Behold, I am againft the 
fhepherds, -faith the Lord (that is, as appearsfrpai 
the preceeding verfes, thofe fhepherds, who had 
not (lengthened the difeafed, nor healed the 
fick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought again 
what was driven away (1) ; I am againft thefe 
ftiepherds faith the Lord ;) and I will require my 
flock at their hand, and caufe them to ceafe from 
feeding the flock. Did God fo feverely cenfure 
the Jewiih fhepherds for their neglect ; and wSl 

h Hoi. xi. 3. i Ter. ii. 2. k Ezek. xxxiv. 10. 1 ver. 4- 



102 Proofs of CHRISES Tendernefs. ser. vii. 
he not difown and condemn us, if under all the 
greater engagements of fuch a difpeniation as 
the gofpel, and fuch an example as we have now- 
been furveying, our flocks be neglected, or rather 
his flock committed to our care? If you fear God, 
or love the Lord jefus Chrift, feed his ftieep, 

feed his lambs (m . — Iitftruft children, tho' 

it be a difficult work, and may feem to ignorant 
and thoughtlefs people a mean work ; yet do it 
and you will probably find the comfort of it, 
even if they fliould die young, as they perhaps 
may ; and much more, if you fee thefe tender 
plants growing up as cedars in Lebanon, and 
becoming pillars in the houfe of our God (n). 
—Tenderly comfort mourning fouls. Let them 
have free accefs to you at proper times ; hear 
their ftory patiently, though it be a very melan- 
choly one \ and though you have heard it over 
and over again, from others in the fame circum- 
ftances, if not from themfelves. Watch their 
tempers, obferve the turn of their minds, and 
of their difcourfes ; and endeavour to lay hold 
of fome word of their own, that you may, if 
poffible, graft comfort upon it. Mourn with 
them, while they mourn ; and when your heart 
is impreffed with their forrowful cafe, go with 
them to the throne of grace, and fpread it large- 
ly and particularly before the Lord., which you 
cannot fo conveniently do in any other circum- 
ftance. — I know, there are a thoufand gaieties 
of life, and amufements of literature, wviich 
make young perfops, efpecially, averfe to fuch 
work as this. But remember, you are rniniiters 
m John xxi. 10. n Pfal. xcii. i%. Rev. iii. 13. 



skr. vii. Proofs of CHRIST'S Tenckmefs. I 63 

of Chrift 5 and furely the difciple is not above 
his Mailer, nor the fervant above his Lord (o . 
You would think very ill of the fhepherd, that 
was fo charmed with the mufic of his pipe, as 
to forget the lambs, when they mould be fed 
and tended. And I will venture to fay, that as 
the cafe I recommend is very necefTary in order 
to the fuccefs of your miniitry, fo it may be a 
means of improving both your gifts and graces, 
and of forming you to a fpiritnal and experi- 
mental drain of preaching; which is a much 
more valuable part of a minifter's furniture, than 
clalTical or mathematical learning, or the criti- 
cal ftudy of the fcripture itfelf ; though all thefe 
are defirable in their places, becaufe all may be 
ufeful towards making the man of God perfect (p). 

I would alfo from hence take occaflon, to 
addrefs an exhortation to you, who are heads of 
families. To your more immediate and con- 
ftant care the lambs of the flotk are committed. 
Feed them diligently and affectionately. With- 
out your concurrence, we cannot promife our- 
f elves much from our more public attempts. 
Attend therefore to the religious concerns of 
your children and fervants \ and do it with a 
gentlenefs fuited to their age and circumftances. 
Frighten them not with a rigorous and aufterc 
feverity ; but, as St. Paul expreftes it with re- 
gard to himielf, be gentle among them, even as 
a nurfe chcriftieth her children (q>. In fhort, 
let us all bear one another's burdens, and fo 
fulfil the law of Chrift (r) ; and let us candidly 

Watt. x. 24. p 2, Tim. ill. 17. q 1 The.1T. ii. 7. 
r Gil. vi. 2. 



164 Proofs of Christ's TerJernefs. ser. vit. 
receive one another, as we hope that Chrift with 
all our infirmities hath received us (s). 

5. c; Wh .\t abundant encouragement is here for the feeble ft 
foul, to commit itfeif to Chrift 1" 

Let me now, on that encouragement, parti- 
cularly addrefs the exhortation to thofe, whofe 
circumitances render it peculiarly their concern* 

Let me addrefs it to you, my younger friend's^ 
even to the children that hear me this day. f We 
fpeak of the gentlenefs and goodnefs of Chrin% 
on purpofe to invite you to him. Go to him 
by faith and prayer, and fay, " blefTed Jefus, I 
come to thee a poor weak tender creature ; but 
it was in regard to fuch weaknefs, that thou 
haft been pleafed to fpeak fo gracioully. I be- 
live what I have heard, and I mean to venture 
my foul upon it. I flee to thee f as the helplefs 
lamb to its fhepherd, when hungry, that he 
may feed it, when purfued by wild beafts, that 
he may defend it. Lord", 'open thine arms, and 
thy bofom to me, though I am fo inconfiderable 
a creature. Out of the mouth of babes and 
fucklings thou ordaineft praife (t). Fill my 
heart with thy love, and my mouth with thy 
praife, and lead me on, till I may come to praife 
thee among!}: the Angels in heaven, and to ierve 
thee as they do" 

Let me addrefs the exhortation aife to. the 
tempted and forrowful foul. O thou afflicted, 
thou who art toiled with the tempeir, and not 
comforted ^u^ ! Look unto Jefus. Let thy con- 
flicts and dangers drive thee to him, though 
Satan would thereby attempt to drive thee from 
him. Accuftom not thyfeif, to think of Chriit 
s Rom. xy. 7. t Pfal. viii. 3. Matt. xsi. 16, u Ifa. liv. 11* 



ser. vii. Proofs of Christ's Tendermfs. 

I as dreadful and fevere. Terrify not thyfelf with 
the thought of the iron rod of his vengeance, 
whilft thou feeleft thyfelf difpofed to fubmit to 
the golden fceptre of his grace, to the paftoral 
rod hy which he guides his fheep. And when 
thou fmdeft thy doubts arifing, flee to the repre- 
fentations and aflurances of his word, fo largely 
infilled on above \ and pray, that the influences 
of his fpirit may ftrengthen thy faith in them. 

Nor let me neglect fo proper an occafion, of 
addreffing myfelf to aged chriftians- You, my 
friends, though not the lambs of the flock, are, 
on fome account, the feeble of it. Tho' I hope, 
and believe, that many of you are ftrong in 
grace-, yet the outer man is decaying, and fenfible 
comfort often decays with it. Yet be not dif- 
couraged, but remember your fhepherd. You 
have not only heard of his grace, but you have 
long experienced it. Be chearful in it, and 
remember* that as all your experiences will not 
fecure you otherwife than as in the bofom of 
Chrift, fo all your infirmities and trials cannot 
endanger you while you are there. He has led 
you on gently and fafely through the wildernefs 
a few fteps more will finifh the journey, and 
bring you to the paftures of Canaan. 

Once more, let me addrefs the exhortation 
to thofe who have gone aftray from this blefTed 
ihepherd, and' invite them to return to him. 
May I not appeal to your own confeiences to 
witnefs, that it was never better with you, than 
when you kept neareft to him •, and that while 
at a diflance from him, you are expofed to 
want and danger, and bitter regret ? Has not 
your heart melted within you, while I have 



\66 Proofs of CHRIST'S Tendcmefs. SER. Vti* 

been fpeaking ? and have you not been ready to 
fay, " oh that I were once more lodged in thofe 
gracious arms, in that ccmpaffionate boform" 
A d what hinders it ? Does he net affaire you, 
that he will yet be willing to receive you ? Nay, 
that he will yet rejoice over you, on fome ac-, 
counts even more, tjian over thofe who never 
wandered (w). Return then, in the ftrength 
of divine grace, to the duties you have neglected, 
to the ordinances you have forlakcn ; and may 
ycur fouls find refreshments in them, that with 
firmer purpofe of heart you may for the future 
cleave unto the Lord (x) ? And now, 

laftly, " What a delightful idea docs it ^ive us of the 
mutual endearments, which mail pais between Chrift 
and his people,' when they are brought to the world of 

glory" 

T HEZjt they fhall be no longer expofed to ne- 
cenAties and alarms ; but all the purpofes of his 
iove fhall be compleared. in their everlafting fe- 
curity and joy. And furelythegracicus Redeemer 
mud be inconceivably delighted, when he there 
fees of the travail of his foul (y ;. When he 
has with a gentle and gracious hand conducted 
his fheep through the dark valley of the fhadow 
of death, with what joy will he open to them 
thofe better paftures! With what congratulation 
will he receive them to a ftate of infeparable 
nearnefs to him, and administer unto them an 
abundant entrance into the everlafting kingdom 
of their Lord and Saviour (z) ! Therefore it is 
beautifully reprefented in the book of the revela- 
tion, as the bu fine is and joy of Cluift, even on 
the throne of his glory, to lead on his faints to 
W Luke xv. 6, 7. *A&$ xi. 23. y I&. Ir}. II. z 2 Pct.i. ir. 



ser. vii. Proofs of Christ's Tetidernefs. 167 

the various fcenes of divine pleafure and enjoy- 
ment, which are provided for them there : the 
lamb which is in the midft of the throne, thall 
feed them, and (hall lead them unto living foun- 
tains of waters (a). 

And, oh gracious Redeemer, what will the 
joy of thy fleck then be, when thu° fed and con- 
ducted by thee ! If it be fo delightful, at this 
humble diftance, to believe ourfelves the objects 
of thy care and favour, and to tafte of thefe 
little ftreams which thou art caufmg to flow in 
upon us here in the wildernefs, what will that 
river of life be ! If it be now the joy of our 
hearts, a while to forget our cares and our fears, 
when we are perhaps at thy table, and to lean 
our weary heads for a few moments on thy dear 
breaft ; what will it be, for ever to dwell in thine 
embrace, and to fay once for all, return unto thy 
reft, oh my foul, for the Lord hath dealt bounti- 
fully with thee (b) ! bountifully indeed ! when 
they, who were brought out with weeping, and 
led on with fupplication (c), fhall, as the re- 
deemed of the Lord, come to Zion with fongs, 
and everlafting joy upon their heads, and forrow 
and fighing ihall flee away (d). 

In the mean time, we rejoice in hope of this 
blefTed fcene, and would raile fuch feeble praifes, 
as earth will admit, to this great fhepherd, whofe 
arm is fo ftrong to guard us ; whofe bofom is fo 
foft to cherifh us ; and whofe heart is fo com- 
panionate, notwithftanding all our unworthinefs, 
as to exert that arm for our protection, and to 
open that bofom for our repole. Amen. 

a Rev. vii. 17. b Pial. csvi. 7. c Jcr. xxx. 9. d Ifa» 



SERMON VIIL 



The Evidences of' Christianity briefly i 
ed, and the New Testament proved to 
genuine. 



2 Pet. i. 16. 

- -We have not fcllozved cunningly dev 

Fables. 

Jt is undoubtedly a glory "To our age . 
country, that the nature of moral virtue 
been fo clearly ftated, and the practice of i fa 
ftrongly inforced, by the views of its m ive 
beauty, and beneficial confequences, boll > 
private perfons, and focleties. Perhaps in 
reipecl:, hardly any nation or time has equalled, 
certainly few, if, any, have exceeded our c i 
Yet I fear I might add, there, have been 
ages or countries, whjerc vice has more g«: 
rally triumphed, in its moll audacious, anc 
other refpefts, inoft odious forms. 

This may well appear a furprizing cafe ; 
it will furely be worth our while to enquire 
the caufes of fo iirange a circumftance. 1 :*a& 
not now enter into a particular detail of the rip 
But I am perfuaded, none is more confider . !. 
than, that unhappy difregard, neither to the go£ 
pel in general, or to its mofl peculiar and ef- 
femial truths^ which is fo vifible amongft tffj, 



eR» Viil. ef Christianity* t6^ 

and which appears to be continually growing, 
t is plain, that like feme of old, who thought 
ad proieiicd themfelves the wifeft of mankind, 
pr in other words, the freeft thinkers of their 
• re, multitudes among us have not liked to re# 
in God and his truths in their knowledge ; 
.nd it is therefore the lefs to be wondered at, 
God has given them up to a reprobate mind 
,) ; to the molt infamous lufts, and enormities ; 
rid to a depth of degeneracy, which, while it 
in part the natural confequence, is in part al~ 
the juft, but dreadful punifliment of their a* 
xftacy from the faith. And I am perfuaded, 
at thofe who do indeed wilh well to the caufe 
public virtue, as every true chriftian moft 
rtainly does, cannot ferve it more effectually, 
an by endeavouring to eftabliih men in the 
£ of the gofpel in general, and to affedt 
t teir hearts with its moft diftinguifhing truths. 
The latter of thefe is our frequent employm- 
ent, and is what I have particularly been at<* 
te mpting in the preceding difcourfes qn the, 
I >wer and grace of the Redeemers: The form-* 
c I mall now, by the divine affiftance, apply 
i yfelf to, in thofe that follow. And I have 
c lofen the words now before us, as a proper 
trod uc~t ion to fuch a defign. 
They do indeed peculiarly refer to the com- 
I y of our Lord, which the apoftle reprefents as 
efted by that glory, of which he was an eye- 
< tnefs on the mount of transfiguration, and by 
f it voice from heaven which he heard there - 
II JBut the truth of thefe facts is evidently connect* 

a Rom. i, 28. 



17° The Evidences ser. viii 

cd with that of the gofpel in general. I am 
perfuaded therefore, you will think they are 
properly prefixed to a difcourfe on the general 
evidences of chriftianity. And I hope, by the 
divine afliftance, to propofe them at this time iri 
fuch a manner, as fhall convince you, that the 
apoftles had reafon to fay, and that we alfo have 
xeafon to repeat it, " We have not followed 
cunningly devifed Fables" (b\ 

I have often touched on this fubjeft occa- 
lionally, but I thiak it my duty at prefent to in- 
Jift fomething more largely upon it. You eafily 
apprehend, that it is a matter of the higheft im- 
portance, being indeed no other than the great 
foundation of all our eternal hopes. While i'o 
anany are daily attempting to deltroy this foun- 
dation, it is poffible, that thpfe of you, efpeci- 
ally, who are but entering on the world, may 
be called out to give a reafon of the hope that 
5s in you (c). I would therefore, with the apo- 
jftle, be concerned, that you may be ready to do 
5t. It may fortify you againft the artifices, by 
which the unwary are often deceived and en- 
fnaxed, and may poffibly enable you to put to 
lilence their foolifhnefs (d). At leaft it will be 
for the fatisfaftion of your own minds, to have 
confidered the matter ferioufly, and to be con- 
fcious to yourfelves, that you are not chriftians 
merely by education, or example, as (had you 
fceen born elfewhere) you might have been Pa- 
gans or Mahometans ; but that you are fo upon 
rational evidence, and becaufe (as the facred 
hiftorian exprefies it, ) you know the certainty 
b 2 Pet I 16, 17, 18. ci Pet, iij. ic. d 1 Fet ii. 



j ser, viii, of Christianity* 171 

of thofe things in which you have been in«* 
I ftr acted (e). 

To open and vindicate the proof of chriftian* 
. ity in all its extent, would be the. employment 
! oi many difcourfes j nor would it, on the whole* 
j be proper to attempt it here. All that I now 
intend here is, to give you a fummary view o£ 
the molt considerable arguments, in that which 
feems to me their moil proper and natural con- 
I neclion \ that fo you may be able to judge o£ 
them better, than you could poflibly do by a 
1 few fcattered remarks, or by the rnoft copious 
I enlargement on any fingle branch of them a- 
j lone. I {hall endeavour to difpofe thefe hints 
! fo, as that they may be fome guide to thofe, 
j whofe leifure and abilities may lead them to a 
more ample and curious enquiry; that they 
may not be intangled in fo complex an argu- 
ment, but may proceed in an orderly manner* 
And if any of you, my friends, defire a more 
particular information on any of thofe heads, 
which I now but briefly fuggeft, you may de- 
pend upon it, that faithful minifters of every 
denomination will think it an important part o£ 
their duty, to give you all the private affiftance 
they can. It is my hearty prayer, that God 
would enable me to plead his caufe with fuc- 
cefs j that he would open your underftandings 
to receive thefe things, and ftrengthen your 
memories to retain them ; that you may not be 
{ike children, toffed to and fro, and carried a- 
bout with every wind of doctrine, by the Height 
of men, and the cunning craftinefs, whereby 

e Luke i. "4, 

K 2 



fji v 57v Evidences stR. vin. 

they He in wait to deceive (f) but may be ftrong 
in faith, giving glory to God (g) •, that, your 
faith being more and more eftabliihed, it may 
appear, that the tree is watered at the roots ^ 
and all your other graces may grow and flou- 
Xiflr, in an equal proportion. 

But before I proceed, I mull defire you to 
Obferve, that there is no proof in the world io 
fatisfa&ory to the true chriftian, as to have felt 
the transforming power of the gofpel on his 
own foul. As that illiterate man whofe eyes 
U-ere miraculoufly opened by Chrift, when he 
was queftioned by the Jewifh Sanhedrim, who 
endeavoured w r ith all their fophiftry to prove 
Chrift an impoftor, anfwercd with great fteadi- 
iiefs and conftancy, and with a great deal of 
teafon too^thts " one thing I know, that where- 
as I was blind, now I fee" (h) ; So the mod un- 
learned of the difciples of Jefus, having found 
his foul enlightened and fa notified, and felt his 
heart fo effectually wrought upon, as to bring 
him home to his duty, his God, and his happz- 
Uefs, by the conftraining power of the gotpteifc 
will defpife a thoufand rubric objections which 
may be urged againit it : And though the crofe 
of Chrift be to the Jews a ftumbling-block, and 
to the Greeks foolilhnefs, yet with this expe- 
rience of its faving energy, he will honour it 
an the midft of all their contempt and ridicule, 
as c f the power of God, and the witdom of 
God" (i.) In this fenfe, though the miraculous 
communication of the fpint be ceafed, w h£ that 

f Eph. tv. 24. g Rom. iv. 20. h John ix. 25. i 1 Cor. 
ii 23, 24, 



S KR. VIII. of Christianity. 1 73 

believes, hath ft ill the witnefs in himfelf" (k) 5 
and while the " Spirit beareth witnefs with hi& 
ipirit, that he is a child of God" (1), he cannot 
doubt, but that the word by which he was, as 
it were, begotten unto him, is indeed a divine 
and incorruptible feed (m). And perhaps, there 
are certain feafons of prefling temptation, in 
which the moft learned, as well as the molt il- 
literate chriltian, will find this the fureft an- 
chor of his hope. 

Nevertheless, it mult be acknowledged, 
that this glorious kind of evidence, is like the 
white ftone, mentioned in the Revelation, in 
which there was " a new name written, which 
no man knew, but he who received it" (n)» 
God has therefore made other provihon for the 
honour and fupport of his goipel, by furnilhing 
it with a variety of proof, which may with un- 
diminithed, and. indeed with growing convic- 
tion, be communicated from one to another. 
And we lhouid be? greatly wanting in gratitude 
to him, in zeal for a Redeemer's kingdom, and 
I in charitable concern for the converiion of thofe 
who reject the gofpel, as well as for the edifi- 
cation of thofe who embrace it, mould we 
wholly overlook thefe arguments, or neglect to 
acquaint ourfelves with them. This is the evi- 
dence, which I am now to propofe ; and I de- 
iire you would hear it with a becoming atten- 
tion. I fpeak to you, as to rational creatures : 
Judge ye of the reafonablenefs of whatlfhall fay. 
In profecutiori of this great defign, I mail 

k i John v s 10, 1 Rom. via. r6. m James i. 18. 1 Pet* 
i. 23, n Rev. ii. 17. 



274 C £h e Evidences SER. viil. 

endeavour more particularly to (hew you,- - 

*hat if we take the matter on a general furvey, 
it will appear highly probable, that fuch a 
fcheme of dodtrines and precepts, as we find 
chriftianity to be, fhould indeed have been a 
divine revelation ; and then, that if we exa- 
mine into the external evidence of it, wc ' Avail 
£nd it certain in fadt, that it was fo, and that 
It had its original from above. 

fiRST, Let me fhew, " taking the matter merely in 
theory, it will appear highly probable, that fuch a, 
fyftem as the gofpel fhould be indeed a divine reve- 
lation." 

To evidence this, I would piore particularly 

£>rove, that the itate of mankind was fuch, 

:as greatly to need a revelation ^that there 
feems from the light of nature, encouragement 
to hope that God fhould grant one that it is 
xeafonahle to believe, if any were made, it 
Should be fo introduced and tranfmitted, as we 
are told chriftianity was \ and {hat its general 
iiature and fubftance fhould be fuch, as we find 
that of the gofpel is. If thefe particulars are 
imade out, here will be a ftrong prefumptive 
evidence, that the gofpel is from God ; and we 
jfhall have opened a fair way toward that more 
direft proof, which I principally intend. 

i. " The cafe of mankind is naturally fucft, as greatly to 
need a divine revelation." 

I speak not here of man in his original ftate; 
though even then, as many have largely {hewn, 
fome inftruction from above feemed necefiary 
to inforai him of many particulars, which it 
was highly expedienj that he fhould immedi-* 



SER. Vlll. of C/jrislianlly. 1 75 

ateiy know : But I fpeak of him in the degene- 
rate condition in which he now fo evidently 
lies, by whatever means he was brought into 
it. lfe is an eaiy thing to make florid enco- 
miums on the perfection of natural light, and 
to deceive unwary readers with an ambiguous 
term * (which (hail fometimes fignify all that 
appears even to the divine understanding, and 
fomctimes no more than the meaneft of the 
human race may, or than they actually do at- 
tain *, but let fact fpeak, and the controtrerfy 
« ill fcOB be determined. I appeal to all, that 
are acquainted with the records of antiquity, 
or that have any knowledge of the molt credi- 
ble accounts of the preient ftate of thole coun- 
tries where chriitianiry is unknown, whether 
it is. not too obvious a truth, that the whole 
heathen world has lain, and ft ill lies in wickecl- 
nefs (o). Have not incomparably the greater 
part of them been perpetually bewildered in 
their religious notions and practices, vaftly dif* 
fering fiom each other, and almoit equally dif- 
fering on all ' fides from the probable appear- 
ances of truth and reafon ? Is any thing fo wild 
as not to have been believed, any thing fo infa- 
mous as not to have been pradtifcd by them, 
while they have not only pretended to juftify 
it by reafon, but have comecrated it as a part 
of their religion ? To this very day, what are 
the difcoveries of new nations in the American 

* Tills Dr Tyndal has done in fo grofs and palpable a 
manner, that it is fupnzing that fallacy alone fliould not 
have expofed his Chriitianity as old as the Creation, to the 
immediate contempt of every intelligent reader, 

1 John v. 19, 



l*j 6 x 'he Evidences ser. -VJlf. 

or African World, but generally fpeaking v the 
opening of new fcenes of enormity ? Rapine, 
lull, cruelty, human facrifices, and the molt 
ftupid idolatries, are, and for ought I can find, 
always have been, the morality and religion of 
almoit all the Pagan nations under heaven ; 
And to fay, that there have fliil been fome 
fmothered fparks of reafon within, which if che- 
rifhed, might have led them to truth and hap- 
pinefs, is only faying, that they have been lb 
much the more criminal, and therefore fo much 
the more miferable. 

But you live at home, and hear thefe things 
only by uncertain report- Look then around 
you within the fphexe of your own observation, 
and fee the temper and character of the gene- 
rality of thofe, who have been educated in a 
chriitian, and even in a proteftant country. 
Obferve their ignorance and forgetfulnefs of 
the divine being, their impieties, their debauche- 
ries, their fraud, their oppreflion, their pride 5 
their avarice, their ambition, their unnatural in- 
fer! Ability of the wants and forrows and inte- 
refts of each other y and when you fee how 
bad they generally are in the midit of fo many 
advantages, judge by that of the probable ftate 
of thofe that want them. Judge upon thefe 
views, whether a revelation be an unneceffary 
thins:. 

o. 

2. " There is, from the light of nature, confiderable 
encouragement to hope, that God would favour hi s 
creatures with fo needful a blefiing as a revelation 
appears." 

That a revelation is in itfelf a poftibte 



se™. vili. of Cunstuinny 177 

tiling, is evident beyond all fhadow of n doubt. 
Shall not <i he that made man's mouth" (p), 
who has given us this wonderful faculty of dif- 
covering our fentimerits, and communicating 
our ideas to each other, (hail not he be able to 
converfe with his rational creatures, and by 
fenfihie manifeftations, or by inward impref- 
nons, to convey the knowledge of things, 
which lie beyond the ken of their natural facul- 
ties, and yet may be highly conducive to their 
advantage ? To own a God, and to deny him 
fuch a power, will be a notorious contradiction. 
— But it may appear much more dubious, whe- 
ther he will pleaie to confer fuch a favour on 
fmful creatures. 

Now I acknowledge, that we could not cer- 
tainly conclude he would ever do it ; confider- 
ing on the one hand, how juftly they flood 
expoled to his final difplealure j and on the 
other, what provihon he had made by the 
frame of the human mind, and of nature around 
us, for giving us fuch notices of hirnfelf, as 
would leave us inexorable, if we either failed 
to know him or to gloriiy him as God, as the 
apoille argues at large (q). Neverthelefs me- 
thinks, we ihould have had fomething of this 
kmd to ..ope, from ctmfideriug God as the in- 
cu.gent father of his creatures j from obierving 
the tender care which he takes cf us, and the 
liberal tuppty which he grants for the fupport 
of the animal life ^ especially, from the provi- 
iion which he has nvade for man, conddered as 
a guilty and' calamitous creature, by the mcdi- 

p Exod. iv. 11^ q Rom. i. 2?, 6c fen. 



178 The Evidences ser. xin. 

cinai and healing virtues which he has given 
to many of the productions of nature, which 
in a ftate of perfect rectitude and happineft 
man would never have needed* This is a cir- 
ciimftance, which feemed ftrongly to intimate, 
that he would feme time or another gracioufly 
provide fome remedy to heal men's minds \ and 
mat he wduld interpofe to inftrnct them, in his' 
own nature, in the manner in which he is to 
be ferved, and in the final treatment which 
they may expect from him. And I think, fuch 
an apprehenfion teems very congruous to the 
fentiments of the generality of mankind ; as 
appears from the many pretences to aivihe re- 
velation whi^h have often been made, and the 
readinefs of multitudes to receive them on very 
flender proofs : This ihews how naturally men 
expect fome fuch kind mterpofition of the 
Deity: A thought, which might farther be 
confirmed by fome remarkable paffages of hea- 
then writers, which I have net now time par- 
ticularly to mention. ' 

3. We may eafilv conclude, " that if a revelation were 
given, it would be introduced and tranfmitted in inch 
a manner, as chriltianity is faid to have been." 

It is exceeding probable, for inftance, that 
it mould be taught, either by fome lllultrious 
perfon fent down from a fuperior world, or at 
kali by a aian of eminent wifdom and piety, 
who {hould himfelf have been, not only a teach- 
ei, but an example, of univerfal goodnels. In 
order to this it leems probable, that he would 
be led through a feriesof calamity and diitreis *, 
fines other wife he would not have been a pat- 



SER. viii. of Christianity, 179 

tern of the virtues which adorn adverfity, and 
are peculiar to it. And it might alio have been 
expected, that in the extremity of his diftrefs, 
. the bleiled God, wkofe meiTcnger he was, mould 
in forne extrordinary manner, have interpofed 
either to preferve, or to recover him from death. 

It is moreover exceeding probable that fuch 
a perfon, and perhaps alfo they who were at 
firfk employed as his mefTengers to the world, 
ihould be endowed with a power of working 
miracles \ both to awaken men's attention, and 
to prove a divine million, and the confequent 
truth of their doctrines ; fome of which, might 
perhaps, not be capable of any other kind of 
proof ; or if they were, it is certain that no 
method of arguing is fo (hort, fo plain, and 10 
forcible, and on the whole, fo well iuited to 
the conviction, and probably the reformation 
of mankind, as a courfe of evident, repeated, 
and uncontrolled miracles. And fuch a me- 
thod of proof is especially adapted to the popu- 
lace, who are incomparably the greater part of 
mankind, and for whole benefit, we may allure 
ourfelves, a revelation would chiefly be defign- 

ed. 1 might add, it was no way improbable, 

though not in itfelf certain, that a difpenfation 
mould open gradually on the world \ and that 
the molt illuicrious melTenger of God to men 
should be umered in by fome predictions, which 
fiiould raife a great expectation of his appear- 
ance, and have an evident accomplimment in 
lim. 

As for the propagation of a religion fo in- 
roduced, it fecms no way improbable, that- 



l8o The Evidences* ser. viii* 

having been thus eftablifhed in its firft age, it 
fhould be tranfmitted to future generations by- 
credible teftimony, as other important facts 
are. It is certain, thai affairs of the utmoll 
moment, which are tranfacted amongft men, 
depend on teltimony : on this voyages are un- 
dertaken, fettlements made, and controverfies 
decided ; controverfies, on which not only the 
eftates, but the lives of men depend. And 
though it mufi be owned, that, fuch an hiftori- 
cal evidence is not equally convincing with 
miracles which are wrought before our own 
eyes 5 yet it is certain, it may rife to fuch a 
degree as to exclude all reafonable doubt. And 
I know not why we mould expect, that the 
evidence of a revelation mould be fuch, as 
imiverfaily to compel the immediate affiftance 
of all to whom it is offered. To me it feems 
much more likely, that it fhould be fo adjuft- 
ed, as to be a kind of touch-ftone to the tem- 
pers and characters of men \ capable indeed of 
giving ample fatisfaction to the diligent and 
candid enquirer, yet attended with fome cir- 
cumftances, from whence the captious >and 
perverfe might take occafion to cavil and ob- 
jecT:. Such might we fuppofe the evidence of 
the revelation would be, and fuch it is main- 
tained, that of chriftianky is. The teachers of 
it fay, and undertake to prove, that it was 
thus introduced, thus eftablifhed, and thus 
tranfmitted ; and we truft, that this is a ftrong 
prefumption in its favour : Efpecially as we 
can add, 



§ER. VIII. of Christianity 1 8 1 

4. *' That the main doctrines contained in the gcfpel 
are of fuch a nature, as we might in general fuppefe, 
thofe of a divine revelation would be rational, practi- 
cal, and fublime." 

One would imagine, that in a revelation of a 
religion from God, the great principles of natu- 
ral religion mould be clearly afferted, and ftrong- 
ly maintained : fuch I mean, as the exigence 
(r), the unity (s), the perfection (t,) and the 
providence of God (u) ; the efTential and immu- 
table difference between moral good and evii 
(w) ; the obligation we are under to the Various 
branches of virtue, whether human, focial, or 
divine (x) ; the value and immortality of the 
foul (y) *, and the rewards and punifhments of a 
future ftate (z). One would eafily conclude, 
that all thefe particulars muft be contained in k; 
and that upon the whole, it mould appear calcu- 
lated, to form men's minds to a proper temper, 
mher than to amufe them with curious spe- 
culations. 

It might indeed be farther fuppofed, and 
probably concluded, that fuch a revelation 
would contain fome things, which could net 
have been learnt from the higheft improve- 
ments of natural light : And confidering the 
infinite and unfathomable nature of the bleffed 
God, it would be more than probable, that 
many things might be hinted at, and referred 
to, which our feeble faculties Ifcould not be 
able fully to comprehend. Yet we mould ex- 

r Heb. xi. 6. s Mark xii. 29. 1 Tim. ii. 5 t M3t. V 
! 4S. u Mat. x. 29, 30. w Ifa. v. 20. 2 Cor «p, r 1.. 
x Mat. xxii. 37, 30. Phil. iv. 8. Tit. ii. iz. y Mak 
x. 23. xvi. 2.5. z Rom. ii. 6—10. Mat. xxv. 40. 

1, 

11 



1 8 2 The Evidences s e r . vi i m 



peft, to find thefe introduced in a 'practical 
view, as directing us to .duties before unknown, 
or fuggefting powerful motives to make us re 
folute and conftant in the difcharge of the 
reft *. As for ceremonial and po'fitive inftitu- 
tions, we mould imagine, at leaft in the mof . 
perfect ftate of the revelation, that they mould 
be but few, and thofe few plainly fubfervier;t 
to the great purpofes of pra&ical religion. 

I shall only add, that forafmuch as pride 
appears to be the mod reigning corruption o * 
the human mind, and the fource of numherlef 
irregularities *, it is exceeding probable, that 
divine revelation mould be calculated, to bum 
hie the fallen creature, and bring it to a fenfi 
of his guilt and weaknefs ; and the more evi 
dently that tendency appears, other things bein: 
equal, the greater reaibn there is to believe j 
that the original of fuch a icheme is from abov* 

Your own thoughts have undoubtedly pre 
vented me in the application of thefe charac 
ters to the chriftian revelation. - The juftice c 
that application I muft not now illuftrate ; : 
large. But I muft beg leave to advance ore 
remark, which will conclude what I have to fa 
on this general : Which is, that as the chriftian 
fyftem is undoubtedly worthy of God, fo cor- 
fide-ring the manner in which it is faid to I 
been introduced, (feparate from the evidenc e 
of thefe fails, which is afterwards to be coi 
iidered,) it is extremely difficult to imagine 
from whom elfe it could have proceeded. 

* Particularly on what terms, and to what degree, p: 
ion and happineis might be expected by linful creatures 

Ml 



;ZR. viii. of Christianity. 183 

L will readily allow, that neither the rea- 
fonablenefs of its doctrines, nor the purity of 
ts morals, will alone prove its divine original ; 
Since it is potTible, the reafon of one man may 
difcover that, which the reafon of another ap- 
proves, as being, in itfelf considered, either 
true in theory, or ufefui in practice. But this 
fs not ail ; for in the pjrefent cafe it is evident, 
that the firft teachers of chriftianity profeiTed, 
that they were taught it by divine revelation, 
and that they were empowered by God with 
miraculous endowments for the confirmation of 
it. Now it it v/ere net indeed fo as they pro- 
tend, how can we account for fo ftrange a 
phenomenon, as fuch a do£lrine introduced 
ith fuch pretences I If it were not from God, 
whence was it? From good, or from evil Angels, 
or men ? Wicked creatures, as our Lord ftrong- 
ly intimates (a), would never contrive and pro- 
pagate fo excellent a fcheme ; nor can we ima- 
gine, that holy Angels, or righteous men would 
:hus be found falfe witneiles cf God (b), or have 
attempted to fupport the caufe of religion and 
:ruth, by fuch impious and notorious falihoods, 
is their pretenfions mult have been, if they were 
fallhoods at all. 
• And thus much for the firft branch of the 
{ argument: If you confider the chriftian fcheme 
: aniy in theory, it appears highly probable ; fince 
a revelation was ib much needed, might fo 
. reafonably be expected, and if it were ever given, 
would, fo far as we can judge, be thus introduced 
and be in the main attended with fuch internal 
a #Cat. nil 2<-~*p. b j Cor. xv. 15, 

L 2 



184 The Evidences ser, viii. 

chara&ers. And though we have not as ye c 
exprefsly proved, that the gofpel was introduced 
in fuch a manner, as the defenders of it affertj 
yet it would be ftrangely unaccountable, that fo 
admirable a iyftem of truth and duty fhould be 
advanced by the prince of darknefs, and the 
children of wickednefs ; as it muft have been, if 
the perfons firft employed in the propagation 
of it were not u endowed with power from on 
high" (c). 

To embrace the gofpel is fo fafe, and on the 
whole, fo comfortable a thing, that I think a 
wife man would deliberately and refolutely 
venture his all upon it, though nothing more 
could be offered for its confirmation. But, 
blefled be. G od, we have a great deal more to 
offer in this important caufe *, and can add, with 
ftill greater confidence, that it is not only in 
theory thus probable, but, 

Secondly, " that it is in fact certain, that chrirtianity is 

indeed a divine revelation." 

Here I confefs the chief ftrefs is to be laid 5 
and therefore I fhall infift more largely on this 
branch of the argument, and endeavour, by the 
divine affiftance, to prove the certainty of this 
great facl. You will naturally apprehend, that 
I fpeak only of what is commonly called a moral 
certainty* : but I need fpeak of no more ; for in 
many cafes, fuch kind of evidence gives, the 
mind as ample, and as rational a fatisfacliior!, as 

c Luke xxiv. 49. 
* Which, though it amount not to flricl demonftration, 
as'uich ki«d of evidence as fuits pad matters of facl:, and is 
fn indent to make a candid and rational enquirer eafy in his 
sffent. 



SER. viii. of Christianity. 185 

it may find even in Tome fuppofed mathematical 
demonftration ; fince there it is poffible, at leaft 
in a long deduction of particulars, for the mod 
fagacious of mankind to fall into a rniftake. 

Now in order to fettle this grand point as 
clearly as I can, I think 'it may be proper to 
prove, 

I. That the books of tlie New Teftament, as they are 
now in your nanus, may be depended upon as written by the 
firft preachers and pubHmers of Chriftianity. And, 

II. That from hence it will certainly follow, that what 
they affert is true, and that the religion they teach, brings 
along with it fuch evidences of a divine authority, as may- 
molt juftly recommend it to our acceptance. 

Each of thefe heads might furnifli out matter 
for many volumes ; but it is my buiinefs to hint 
at the mod obvious and important thoughts, by 
which they may briefly be illuftrated and con- 
firmed. 

I. I Arc to prove to you, "that the books o£ the New 
Teftament, n$w in yCkir. hands, were written by the firlt 
preachers and publifhers of chriftianity." 

You fee I confine the prefent proof, to the 
books of the New Teftament. Not that I think 
the authority of the old to be fufpedted, or the 
ufe of it by any means to be defpifed. God for- 
bid I It is an invaluable treafure, which demands 
our daily delightful and thankful perufal, and is 
capable of being defended in a- manner, which I 
am perfuaded itsfubtileli enemies will never be 
able to anfwer. But the nature of my prefent 
argument, and the limits of my time, oblige me 
at prefent to wave the proof of it, any farther 
than as it is implied in, and dependent upon, 
what I have more immediately in view. 

£3 



The Evidences 



ser. vni. 



In the procefs of the difcourfe, though I fhall 
ftudioufly avoid any oftentation of learning, 
yet it will be absolutely neceffary to aflert fome 
things, which cannot certainly be known, with- 
out fome little acquaintance with ancient writers. 
You cannot, rooft of you, be fuppofed to have 
formed fuch an acquaintance but I take it for 
granted you will readily believe, that I will not 
He for God nor talk deceitfully for him (d). I 
fhall fay nothing of this kind, but what I knew 
to be contained in thofe writings ; and you may 
aiTure yourfelves, that no man cf common fenfe, 
whatever his moral or religious char»£ter were,, 
would venture in fuch an age as this, publicly 
to cite parages, as from authors in every ones 
hands, which he cannot prove to be contained 
in them. 

Having premifed thefe things, I go on to the 
argument, and ihall advance in it by the follow- 
ing degrees. I fhall prove, that chriftianity 

is an ancient religion ; that there was fuch a 

perfon as Jefus of Nazareth, crucified at Jerufalem 

about Seventeen hundred years ag3 ; that the 

firft Preachers of his religion wrote books, which 
went by the name of thofe, that now make up 

the volume of our New Teftament; that they 

are preserved in the original to the prefent times; 

—and that the tranflation of them, which 

you have, is in the main fuch, as may be depend- 
ed upon as faithful. And then I fhall have 
clearly made out what I propofed in this firft 
part. 

i. It is certain, * { that chriftianity is not a new ie!ig Ton > 
d Job xiii. 7. 



SER, villi ef Christianity. - • 187 

but that it was maintained by great multitudes, quickly 
after the time in which Jems is faid to have appeared. " 

That there was, confiderably more than fix- 
teen hundred years ago, a body of men, who 
went by the name of chriftians^ is almoft as evi- 
dent, as that a race of men was then exifting in 
the world ; nor do I know, that any have ever 
been wild and confident enough to difpute it. 
If any mould for argument fake queftion it, they 
might quickly be convinced by a confiderable 
number of chriftian writers, who lived in the 
fame, or the next age # , and mention it as a 
thing notorioufly certain, that Chriftianity was 
then of fome {landing in the world fome of 
them giving directions and exhortations to their 
brethren, and others forming apologies, to their 
enemies, for which there could not otherwifc 
have been the leaft foundation. We might 
have acquiefced in their teftimony, had it been 
alone ; but it is confirmed by that of Jews and 
Heathens, who, by their early invectives againtt 
the chriftians, do molt evidently prove, that 
there was fuch a body of men in the world. 

The molt confiderable Roman Hiftorians, 

who lived in this age, and wrote of it, are Tacitus, 
and Suetonius, who both publifhed their writ- 
ings above fixteen hundred years ago, and they 
are always and very juftly appealed to, as preg- 

, _ "' ■ , 1 . , : \ . • - 1, ; " 

* Such as Clemens Romanus, Ignatius, Polycarp, Juftin 
Martyr, IrehseuS, Tati'an, Athenagoras, and Theophilus 
Antlochenus, who all wrote before the year 200, and fome 
in the firft century ; not to urge "Barnabas, and Hermas ; nor 
to mention any of thofe cited by Eufebius, whole books are 
all loft, except' fome fragments, preferved chiefly by that 
excellent writer. - /- 

L 4 



iS8 



Tie Evidctices 



ser. vin 



nant witnefiea upon this occafioii.— ■ For Tacitus 
afTures us, " that in Nero's days," who begun 
his reign about twenty years after the death of 
Chrilt, " there was a vaft multitude of chriftians, 
not only in Judaea, but at Rome too ; againft 
whom Nero raifed a persecution, attended with 
fuch circumftances of ignominy and cruelty, as 
moved the companion even of their enemies • 
of which number this hiftoriari evidently was*. 
Nay he plainly intimates, that this was. not the 
fir ft attempt which had been made to crufh 
them ; though this attempt was fo early as we 

have heard. His contemporary Suetonius, 

in his more concife manner, attefta the fame f . 
— And Pliny, the intimate friend and correfpon- 
dent of both, being employed in Trajan's time 
to perfecute the Chriftians, writes an account 
of theai to that empeior, which, though com- 
monly knpwn, mull be mentioned as it is fo 
highly important. After having fpoken very 
favourably of their moral character, he adds, 
" that many of both fexes, and of every age 
and rank, were infected' with this fuperftition f* 
as he thinks fit to exprefs it ; that it was gone 
into the villages, as well as the cities and that, 
till he begun to put the laws in execution a- 

* Nero quaefitiffimis poenis affecit, quos, per Flagitia in- 
vifcs, viilgus Christianos appellabat. — RepieiTa in praefens 
exitiabilis Superstitio, rurfus erumpebar,, non modo per 
Judseaai, engine^ ejus mali, fed per urbem etiam, &-c — - 
Multitudo ingens—^Odio human! generis convi&i fttTit ; 6c 
pereuntibus addita Ludibria, — unde Miieratio oriebatur, 
&c. Tacit. Annal. Lib. xv. c. 44. 

f AfHicti fappjiciis Chriftiani, Germs homirmm Superfti- 
tionis novae ac maleficae. Sueton. Ner. cap. xvi. 



SER- VIII. of Christianity. 1 89 

gainft them, the temples of the heathen deities 
were almoft deferted, and hardly any could be 
found who would buy victims for thernf." 

It might he added* that Marcus- Antoninus^ 

who wrote a few. years after Pliny, mentions 
the chriftians, "as examples of a refolute and 
obftinate contempt of death :" and it is generally 
firppofed, that they are. the Galileans, whom 
Epicletus fpeaks of " as thofe whom practice 
had taught, to defpife- the rage of their armed 
enemies. "§ 

I shall difmifs this head with obferving, that 
it tends greatly to the confirmation of Chriftia- 

f Multi Omnis ./Etatis, omnis' Ordinis, utriufque Sexus 
etiam vocantur in periculum. Neque Civitates tantum, 
feci Vicos etiam, atquoe Agros, Superftionils iftius contagio 
pervag-ata eft; — prope jam defoiata Templa,— Sc facra 
Soiennia diu intermiUa .:— -Victimas, quarum adhuc rarif- 
iimus Emptor inveniebaU?r. Plin. Epift. Lib. x. Epift. gj. 

I See the Emperor's Constitution to the community 01" 
Alia, (as inferted by Eufebius in his Ecclefiastical History, 
Lib, iv. cap. 13.) in which he mentions their persecuting 
the christians to death-; and fpeaks of thefe periecutions as 
having continued a confiderabe time. N. B. This was in- 
ferred in Melito's apology for the Christians, which, he 
wrote in that Emperor's reign, fo that there cannot be the 
least doubt of, its being. genuine. 

§ [This would be the proper place to mention the paf<- 
f age laid to be in Phiio Judaeus, (who was contemporary with 
the Apostles,) relating to the Chrisrians in t his days, and 
the methods taken by an embalTy from Jefufaiem to pre- 
vent the progrefs of their religion : But though I verily 
beheve the fadl to have been true, I omit it, for re a ion $ 
which the reader will find in a note under head 3. of the 
nest' Sermon.— Some other parTages of ancient writers, 
which might be very pertinent here, I referve to mention 
under fome following heads, and particularly where I thali 
QSeadfe of the miraculous propagation of the goipel, in Ser. x.l 

L s I 



lt>o The Evidences sek. vm 

nity, that each of thefe celebrated and ancient 
Pagan Writers, at the fame time they atteft the 
exiltence of fuch a body of men prcfefling it, 
inform, us of thofe extream perfecutions which 
they under-went, in the very infancy of their 
religion ; a fact alfo farther apparent from the 
apologies addrefled by the chriftians to their 
perfecutors, which, whatever imperfections may 
attend the manner in which lome of them are 
writ, appear to me fome of the moft valuable 
remains of antiquity, (the facred records only 
excepted,) efpecially thofe. of Juftin Martyr, 
Tertullian, and Minutius Fjelix. This funda- 
mental point is then abundantly made out \ that 
there were vaft numbers of men, very quickly 
after the time when Jefus is faid to have appear- 
ed upon earth, who prcfeffed his religion, and 
chofe to endure the greateft extremities, rather 
than they would abandon it." From hence it 
will be eafy to {hew, 

2. "That there was certainly fuch a perfon as Jefus»of 
Nazareth, who was crucified at Jerufalem^when Pontius 
Pilate was the Roman Governor there." 

It can never be imagined, that multitudes of 
people fhould take their name from Chrift, and 
iacrifice their lives for their adherence to him, 
even in the fame age^in which he is faid to have 
lived, if they had not been well allured, there 
was fuch a perfon. Now feveral of the Authors 
I have mentioned plainly aflfert, that the chriftians 
were denominated from Chrift \ nay, Tacitus 
exprefsly adds, " that he was put to death Under 
Pontius Pilate, who was procurator of J tutea, 



SER. VIII. cf Christianity. jpi 

in the reign of Tiberius*." And it is well 
known, that the primitive chriftian apologifts 
often appeal to the 2f£ts of Pilatef, or the memoirs 
of his government, (which he, according to the 
cuftom of other procurators, tranlmitted to 
Rome,) as containing an account of thefc trans- 
actions : and as the appeal was made to thofe, 
who had the command of the public records, we 
may a flu re ourfelves fuch teftimonies were then 
extent. But it is a fa&, which our enemies 
never denied \ they owned it, they even gloried 
in it, and upbraided the cbriftians with it. Tie 
Jews therefore in fome of their earlieft writings 
iince thofe times, call Jelus by the ignominious 
name of u the man who was hanged, or crucifi- 
ed/' and his followers, " the fervants of tie 
crucified Perfotat" And Lucian rallies them 
for deferting the pompous train of the heathen 
deities, to worihip one whom he impioufly calls 
(( a crucified impoftor§.' --[Spartian alfo aflurts 

* Auetor nominis ejus Chriftus, qui Tiberio imperitante 
per Procuratorem Puntium Pilatum luppiicia affeclus erat. 
tacit, iibi. fupra. 

t VJd. Mart. Apolog. Opcr. pag< 76. TertuL 

Apolog. cap. xxi. 

I Buxtorf. Lexie. Talmud, in Voce. 

j Lucian de Morte. Peregnnr, Open Tom. II. pag. $63. 
[i might here introduce a great many other remarkabJe 
particulars from this writer, which relate to " the fortitude 
of the chriftians in bearing fufferings., their, -'entire fubmif- 
hon to the authority of fefus, their unparalleled charity to 
each other, the prophets and me Angers of their churches, 
and the great progrefs of their religion. 5 * All fcliefe things 
are mentioned in the Pfeudomantis, and the Peath of Pere- 
gnnus, which are undoubtedly Lucian Y: Not to mention 
thofe very memorable paffages in the Fhrlopatris, winch is 

L 6 



192 The Evidences ser. viii. 

us, that the emperor Alexander Severus enter- 
tained fuch high thoughts of Chrift, u that he 
would have admitted him into the number of 
his deities, and have built a temple to him, had 
not his Pagan fubjefts vigoroufly oppofed it.*" 
And Porphyry, though an inveterate enemy to 
chriftianity, not only allowed there was fuch a 
perfon, but honoured him u as a molt wife and 
pious man, approved by the Gods, and taken 
up into heaven for his diftinguifhijd virttlest. ,, ] 

1 might add a great deal more on this 

head \ ; but it already appears as certain as 
ancient hiftory can make it, and incomparably 
more certain than moft of the fa£ts which it has 
tranfmitted to us, that there was at the time 
commonly fuppofed fuch a perfon as Chrift, 
who profefled himfelf a divine teacher, and who 
- gathered many difciples, by whom his religion 
was afterwards publilhed in the world. 

3. It is alio certain, " that the fiift publifhers of this 
religion wrote books, which contained an account of 
the life and doctrine of Jefus their Master, and which 
went by the name of thofe that now make up our New 
Testament." 

It was in the nature of things exceeding pro- 
bable, that what they had feen and heard, they 

of a much later date. But a particular detail of theie 
things would fwell this note to a very improper bulk.] 

* Spartian. de Vita Severi, cap. xxis. &c xliii. 

t Euieb. Demonftr. Evaug. Lib. iii. pag. 134. 

% I fay nothing of the celebrated paffa^e in Jcfephrs, 
(Antiq. Lib* Xviii. cap. 4.) becaufe it has been difputed ; 
though I know no confide rable objection against it, but its 
being io honourable to Christianity, that one weald hardly 
imagine a Jew could write it» 



SER. viii. of Chrijlianity. I93 

would declare and publilh to the world in writ- 
ing (e) j confidering, how common books weie 
in the age and countries in which they taught ; 
and of how great importance an acquaintance 
with the hiftory and doftrine of Chrift was, to 
the purpofes which they fo ftrenuoufly purfued : 
but we have much more than fuch a prefumptive 
evidence. 

The greateft adverfaries of chriftianity mull 
grant, that we have books of great antiquity, 
written fome fourteen, others fifteen, and fome 
fix teen hundred years ago* \ in which mention 
is made of the life of Chrift, as written by many, 
and efpecially by four of his difciples, who by 
way of eminence are called the evangelifts- 
Great pains indeed have been taken to prove, 
that fome fpurious pieces were publifhed under 
the names of the apoftles, containing the hiftory 
of thefe things : but furely this muft imply, that 
it was a thing known and allowed, that the 
Apoftles did write fome narrations of this kind ; 
as counterfeit coin implies fome true money, 
which it is defigned to reprefent. And I am 
furc, he muft be very little acquainted with the 
ancient ecclefiaftical writers, who does not know, 
that the primitive chriftians made a very great 
difference between thofe writings, which we call 
the canonical books of the New Teftament, and 

e 1 John i. 3. 

* Such as Tatian, Irenseus, 'TertuIIian, Clement Alex- 
andrinus, Origen. Eufebius, and many others : See Jones of 
the Canon, Part. IV. Introduce. Justin Martyr's controyerfy 
with Trypho, and Origen's "with Celius, prove that Jews 
and Heathens allowed, not only that there were fnch boc#. c , 
but that they contained the religion of Christians, 



194 ^he Evidences ser. viil. 

others •, which plainly fhews, that they did not 
judge of writings, merely by the names of their 
pretended authors, but enquired withan accuracy 
becoming the importance of thofe pretences. 
The refuit of this enquiry was, that the four 
gofpels, the Adis, thirteen epiftles of Paul, one 
of Peter, and one of John, were received upon 
fuch evidence, that Eufebius, a molt accurate 
and early critic in thefe things, could not learn 
that they had ever been difputed* : and after- 
wards the remaining books of the New Tefta- 
ment, Hebrews, James, the fecond of Peter, the 
fecond and third of John, Jude, and the Revela- 
tion, were admitted as genuine, and added to 
the reft ; though fome circumftances attending 
them, rendered their authority for a while a 
little dubious. On the whole it is plain, the 
primitive chriftians were fo fatisfied in tbe 
authority of thefe facred books, that they fpeak 
of them, not only as credible and authentic, but 
as equal to the oracles of the Old Teftament, as 
divinely infpired^ as the words of the fpirit> as 
the law and organ of God, and as the rule of 
faith, which cannot be contradicted without 
great guilt , with many other exprelhons of the 
like kind, which often occur in their difcourfes. 
To which I may add, that in fome of their 
councils, the New Teftament was placed on a 
throne, to fignify their concern, that all their 
contrpverfies and actions' might be determined 
and regulated by it. 

On the whole then, you fee, that the primitive 
church did receive certain pieces, which bore the 
* Eufeb. Eccief. Kist. Lit), vi. cap. 25* 



sER. vill- of Chrjftianity. 195 

fame titles with the books of our New Tefta- 
ment. Now I think it is evident, they were as 
capable of judging whether a book was written 
byJMathew, John, or Paul, as an ancient Roman 
could be of determining whether Horace, Tuliy, 
or Livy, wrote thofe which go under their 
names. And I am fure, the mtereft of the 
former was fo much more concerned in the 
writings of the Apoftles, than that of the latter 
in die compofitions of the Poets, Orators, or 
even their Hiftorians - 3 that there is reafon to 
believe, they would take much greater care to 
inform diemfeives fully in the merits of the 
came, and to avoid being impofed upon by 
artifice and fiction- Let me now fhew, 

I 4. ** That the boo T <* of the New Testament have been 
preserved in the main uncorrupted to the pre feint 
time, in the original language in which they were 
. *Httexu** 

This is a matter of vaft importance, and 
bieiTed be God, it is attended with proportion- 
able evidence ; an evidence, in which the hand 
of providence has indeed been remarkably feen 
for I am confident, that there is no other ancient 
book in the world* which may fo certainly and 
fo eafily be proved to be authentic. 

And here, I wil! not argue merely from the 
piety of the primitive christians, and the heroic 
reiolution with which they chofe to endure the 
greateft extremities, rather than they would 
deliver up their bibles, (though that be a confi- 
deration of fome evident weight; but (hall intreat 
you to confider the utter impoiTibility of corrupt- 
ing them, From the full ages, they were 



196 %he Evidences ser. viii. 

received, and read in the churches, as a. part of 
their public worihip, jult as Mofes. and the 
Prophets w^re in the Jewifli Synagogues j they 
were prefently fpread far and wide, as the 
boundaries of the church were increafed \ they 
were early tranllated into other languages, of 
which tranflations iome remain to this day. 
Now wdien this was the cafe, haw could they 
po.ffibly be adulterated ? Is it a thing to he fup- 
pofed, or imagined, that thousands and millions 
cf people fhou!d have come together fromdiftant 
countries ; and that with all their diverfities of 
language, and cuftoms, and I may add, of fenti- 
ments too, rhcy fhould have agreed on corrupt- 
ing a book, which they ail acknowledged to be 
the rule of their faith, and their manners, and 
the great charter by which they held their eternal 
hopes. It were madnefs to believe it ; efpecially 
when we confider what numbers of heretics ap- 
peared in the very infancy of the church, who 
all pretended to build their notions on fcripture, 
a»nd mo it of them appealed to it as the final 
judge of controverfies ; now it is certain, that 
theie different parties of profeffing chriftians 
were a perpetual guard upon each ether, and 
rendered it impofiible for one party^ to pxaciife 
grofly on the facred books, without the diieovery, 
and the clamour of the reft . 

Nor mud I omit to remind you, that in every 
sge, from the apofties time to our own, theie 
have been numberlefs quotations made from the 
books of the New Teitament ; and a multitude, 
of commentaries in various languages, and fome 
cf very ancient date ; have beer, written upon 



SER. VIII. of CJ:rijliai:ity 197 

them : fo that if the books themfelves were loft, 
I believe they might in great meafure, if nor 
entirely, be recovered from the writings of 
others. And one might venture to fay, that if 
all the quotations, which have ever been made 
from all the ancient writings now remaining in 
Europe, were to be amafied together, the bulk 
of them would be by no means comparable, to 
that of the quotations taken from the New 
Teftament alone. So that a man might with a 
much better face difpute, whether the writings 
afcribed to Homer, Demofthenes, Virgil, or 
Csefar, be in the main filch as they left them, 
than he could queftion it concerning thofe of 
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, and 
Paul, whether they are in the main fo. 

I say, in the main, becaufe we readily allow, 
that the hand of a Printer, or of a transcriber, 
might chance in fome places to infert one letter 
or word for another, and the various readings of 
this, as well as of all other ancient books, prove, 
that this has fometimes been the cafe. Never- 
thelefs thofe various readings are generally of fo 
little importance, that he who can urge them 
as an objection againft the afiertion we are now 
maintaining, mult have little judgment, or little 
integrity; andindeed, after thofe excellent things 
which have been faid on the fubjecl: by many 
defenders of chriftianity, if he have read their 
writings, he mult have little modefty too. 

Since then it appears, that the books of the 
New Teftament^ as they now (land in the origi- 
nal, are, without any material alteration, fuch 
as they were, when tfeey came from the hands 



198 The Evidences ser. viii 

of the perfons whole names they bear, nothing 
remains to compleat this part of the argument, 
but to fhew, 

5. " That the tranflation of them, now in your hands? 
may be depended upon, as in all things moll material* 
agreeable to the original.*' 

This is a fact:, of winch the generality of you 
are not capable of judging immediately, yet it is 
a matter of great importance : It is therefore a 
very great pleafure to me to think, what ample 
evidence you may find another way, to make 
your minds as eafy on this head, as you could 
reafonably wifh them.- I mean, by the concur- 
rent teftimony of others, in circumftances in 
which you cannot imagine they would unite to 
deceive you. 

, There are, to be fure, very few of us, whofe 
office it is publicly to preach the gofpel, who 
have not examined this matter with care, and 
who are not capable of judging in fo eafy a cafe. 
I believe you have feen few in the place where 
I now ftand, that could not have told you, as I 
now foiemnly do, that, on a diligent comparifon 
of our tranilation with the original, we find that 
of the New Teftamerit, (and I might alfo add, 
tMt of the old,) in the main faithful and judi- 
cious. You know indeed, that we do not 
icruple on fome occafions to animadvert upon 
it *, but you alfo know, that thefe remarks afTecl 
not the fundamentals of religion, and feldom 
reach any farther than the beauty of a figure, 
or at moil the connection of an argument. Nay, 
I can confidently fay, that, to the beft of my 
knowledge and remembrance, as there is no 



ill SER. viii. of Chviftiamty. ipp 

fl copy of the Greek,- fo neither is there anytranfla- 
. tioa of the New Teftament which I have feen, 
whether ancient or modern, how defective and 
. . faulty foever, from which all the principal facts 
\ and doctrines of chriftianity might not be learnt, 
io far as the knowledge of them is neeeffary to 
i n falvatiqn, or even to feme confiderable degrees 
; of edification in piety. Nor do I except irom 
it this remark, even that moft erroneous and cor- 
; rupt verficn, publifhed by the Englifh Jefuits at 
: Rheims, which is undoubtedly one of the worlt 
|j| that ever appeared in our language. 

But I deli re not, that with refpecfc to our own 
tranflation of the New Teftament, a matter of fo 
i ( great moment as the fidelity of it mould reft on 
my teftimony alone, or entirely on that of any of 
my brethren, for whofe integrity and learning 
i c you may have the greateft and jufteft efteem. 
[IS I rejoice to fay, that this is a head, on which we 
J, cannot pofiibly deceive you, if we were ever fo 
l ; defirous to do it. And indeed in this refpett, that 
[ ] is our advantage, which in others is our great ca- 
l i lamity, I mean the diverfity of our religious opi- 
nions. It is certain, that wherefoever there is a 
body of difienters from the public eftabUfhmentj, 
. who do yet agree with their brethren of that 
eftablifhment in the ufe of the fame tranflation, 
I i though they are capable of examining it, and. 
j|; judging of it ^ there ts as great evidence as could 
, j reafonably be defired, that fuch a tranflation is in 
. the main right; for if it were in any confider- 
j able argument corrupted, moft of the other 
i ■ debates would quickly ipfe themfelves in this: 
I and though fuch diffenters hiid all that candor, 
tendernefs, andrefpeftfortheir fellow-chriftians, 



200 



The Evidences , <3"c 



ser. viii. 



which I hope we fhall always endeavour to main- = 
tain, yet they would, no doubt, think thernielves 
obliged in conference to bear a warm and loud 
teftimony againft fo crying an abomination, as 
they would another day appear free from ths T 
guilt of a confederacy, to poifoa the public 
fountains, and deftroy the fouls of men. But 
we make no complaint on this fubjc& ; we all 
unite in bearing our teftimony to the oracles of 
God, as delivered in our own language. Oh' 
that we were equally united in regulating oux 
doctrine, and our discipline, our worftiip, and . 
our praftife by them I 

You fee then, on the whole, how much * 
reafon there is to believe, " that the bocks of the 
New Teftament, as they are now in your hands, 2 
were written by thofe whofe names they bear, B 
even the firft preachers and publishers of chrifti- \ 
anity." This is the grand point ; and from t 
hence it will follow by a train of eafy and natural < 
confequences, that the gofpel is moil certainly I 
true : but that is a topic of argument, abundant- 1 
ly fufficient to furniih our matter for another t 
difcourfe. May God command his blefiing ( 
on what has been already laid before us, that t 
through the operation of his fpirit, it may be \ 
ufeful for eftabhThfng our regard to the/cripture, 
and for confirming our faith in that Almighty • 
Redeemer, who is the Alpha and the Omega, ( 
the beginning and the end, the firft and the laft j 
(f^ ; whom to know is life evcrlafting (g), and in ( 
who n to believe is the great fecurity of our U 
eternal falvation ! Amen. h 



g J0J111 xvii. 3. 




SERMON IX. 



j The Evidences of Christianity, deduced 
from th$ New Testament, allowed to be 
j genuine. 

-==3S^5|^«^ 

2 Pet. i. 16. 

I ~-W$ have riot followed cunningly devifed 

Fables. — — » 

V V HEN we are addre fling ourfelves to an 
audience of profeffing chriftians, I think, we 
may reasonably take it for granted, in the main 
courfe of our miniftry, that they believe the 
truth of the gofpel, and may argue with th&m 
on that fuppofition. To be ever laying the 
foundation would be the part of an unwiie 
builder, and be greatly detrimental to your 
edification and comfort, and I may add, to our 
own. Neverthelefs chriftians, we do not defire 
that you fhould take it merely upon our word, 
that your religion is divine, and your fcriptures 
infpired- We defire, that* your faith, as well 
as your worfnip, fhould be a reafonable fervice 
(a) ; and wife, that, in this refpect, all the Lord's 
people were as prophets (rb),; that as every 
chriltian is in his fphere fet for the defence of 
the gofpel (c), #ach might in fome meafure be 
§bl§ to aflcrt its truth, and, if poffible, to Con- 

a Rom. xii. r. b NrnnJ:. xi z$. c Phil. i. 17. 



vince gainfayers (d). Therefore, as we a 
often hinting at the chief arguments, on which 
this {"acred caufe is eftabliihed', (eftabliihed f 
truft, fo firmly, that the gates of hell ihali ne 
prevail againft it (e) ;) fo I thought it might 
agreeable and ufeful, on this occafion; to ft ^ 
them a little more largely, in their proper c 
neciion, and mutual dependence. And I cr 
the rather to do it, asthefe fermons are efpeci 
intended for young people, who in an age 
which infidelity 10 much abounds, can ha? . - 
expect to paCs through the world, if they .v 
called to convene much in it, without f 
attacks on their faith ; which may be 
dangerous, if they are not provided with fome 
armour of proof againft them. It is ind i 
(as I before obferved,) above all thmretd b< 
fired, that the hfcart may be dlablifhed ■ 
grace (f) ; for we are then moft ieeure from 
danger of forgetting God's precepts (g), w tea 
they have been the blefied means of quicker 
us to a divine life. Yet as other argum< 
have their ufe, and in feme degree their nece: 
too, I fliall go on briefly to propofe them. 

I beg therefore, that you would renew y 
-attention, while I refurafc the thread of my 
courfe, in an entile dependence on the bk 
fpirit, by whom the go fp el was at firft reve v 
and confirmed, to -add fuccefs to ihis hun 
attempt for its Service, and for your edificat 

I am noto (hewing you, that chriftiar. 
which before appeared in theory probable 



oj- ^hnjtiamty. 203 

nal, has in fact a convincing evidence : not 
that it may be, but that it certainly is true ; 
it is certain, that the New Teftament, as 
in your hands, is genuine; — -and as it 
with great evidence be argued from thence, 
the gofpel, is a revelation from God. The 
of thefe points I have endeavoured to prove 
rge •, and without repeating what I faid in 
irmation of it, I now proceed to (hew, 

'That fram allowing the New Testament to be 
genuine, it will certainly follow, that Christianity is a 
ivine revelation." » 

,nd here a man is at firft, ready to be loft in 
multiplicity of arguments which furround 
It is very eafy to find proofs , but difficult 
nge and difpofe them in luch an order, as 
to illuftrate and confirm eaoi other. S^dw 

hufe to offer them in the following fenes 5 

<:h feems to me the mod natural, and per- 

3 may be moft intelligible to ycu. 
he authors of the books contained in the 

v Teftament were certainly capable of judg- 
concerning the truth of the facts they 

ited j their character, fo far as we can 

e of it by their writings, renders them 

thy of regard ; -and they were under no 

station to attempt to impofe on the world 
uch a ftory as they have given us, if it had 
falfe : fo that confidering all things, there 

<> reafon to believe they would attempt it : 
•But if they had, they muft probably have 
ihed in the attempt, and could never have 
ed credit in the world, had their teftimony 

:\ falfe.-~-N^Yerthelefs it is certain in 



204 The Evidences ser. ix 

that they did gain credit, and fucceed in a moft 

amazing manner againft all oppofttion. It is 

certain therefore, that the facts they afiert were 
true ; and if they were true, then it was reafon- 
able for their contemporaries, and is reaionable 
for us, to receive the gofpel as a divine revela- 
tion ; efpecialjy, if we confider what has 

happened in the world fo? the corrfirmation of 
it, iince it was firft propagated by them. This 
is the conclufion, to which I was to lead you ; 
and I beg, ycu would ierioufly confider each of 
the fteps, by which we arrive at it. 

I, It is exceeding evident, u that the writers of the 
New Testament certain!)- knew, whether the fach 
they afferted were true, or faife."' 

And this they muft have known for this 
pl.rJ«L reafon ; becaufe they tell us, they did not 
rruit merely to the report, even of perfons 
whc^m they thought moft credible \ but were 
prefent ^hemfelves, when feveral of the mott 
important fa£ts happened, and fo received them 
cn the teftimcny of their own fenfes. On this 
St. John in his epiftle lays a very great and r$Sf» 
fonable ftrefs : That which we laave feen with j 
our eyes, and that not only by a fudden glance, j 
but which we have attentively looked upon, 1 
and which even our hands have handled of tfce j 
word of life, that is of Chrift and his gofpel, — * 
declare we unto you (h). 

Let the common fenfe of mankind judge | 
here. Did 'not Matthew and John certainly 
know, whether they had perfonally and fami- I 
Kajjly converted with Jefus of Nazareth, or not I 

h i John i. i, 3. 



SER. IX. of Chriftianity. 20^ 

whether he had chofen them foi his conftant 
attendants and apoftles ? whether they had feert 
him heal the fick, difpoflefs devils, and raife 
the dead ? and whether they themfelves had 
received from him fuch miraculous endow- 
ments, as they fay he beftowed upon them ? 
I Did not they know, whether he fell into the 
hands of his enemies, and was publicly put to> 
death, or not ? Did not John know, whether 
he faw him expiring on the crofs, or not ? and 
whether he received from him the dying charge 
which he records (i) ? Did he not know, whe- 
ther he faw him wounded in the fide with a 
fpear, or not ? r and whether he did, or did not 
fee, that effufion of blood and water, which 
was an infallible argument of ttiis being really" 
dead ? Concerning which, it being fo material 
a circumftance, he adds, " He that faw it bears; 
record, and he knoweth that he faith true (k) - y 
that is, that it was a cafe, in which he could 
not pofhbly be deceived. And with regard to 
Chrift's refurreclion, did he not certainly know* 
whether he faw our Lord again and again \ and 
whether he handled his body, that he might be 
fare it was not a mere phantom ? What one 
circumftance of his life could he certainly 
know, if he were miftaken in this ? 

Did not Luke know, whether he was in the 
{hip with Paul, when that extraordinary wreck 
I happened, by which they were thrown afhore 
j on the ifland of Malta ? Did he not know, 
whether while they were lodged together in 
the governor's houfe, Paul miraculoufly healed 

i John six, 27. Tohn xix. 



206 T7:e Evidences ser ix. 

one of the family, and many other difeafed 
perfons in the ifland, as he pofitively afferts that 
he did (1) ? 

Did not Paul certainly know, whether Chrifi 
appeared to him on the way to Damafcus, or 
not ? whether he was blind, and afterwards on 
the prayer of a fellow-difciple received his 
fight ? or was that a circumftance, in which 
there could be room for miftake ? Did he not 
know, whether he received fuch extrordinary 
revelations, and extraordinary powers, as to be 
able, by the impofition of his hands, or by the 
words of his mouth, to work miracles, and even 
to convey fupernatural endowments to others ? 

To add no more, did not Peter know, whe- 
ther he faw the glory of ChrilVs transfiguration, 
and heard that voice to which he fo exprefsly 
refers, when he fays in the text, " We have not a 

followed cunningly devifed fables, but were a 

eye-witnefies of his majefty,— — -when there i 
came fuch a voice to him; and this voice We ) 
\itixA v (m). I 
Now Matthew, John, Luke, Paul, and Peter, d 
sre by far the molt confiderabie writers of the v z 
New Teftament \ and I am fure, when you re- \ 
%zQl on thefe particulars, you mult own, that i 
there are few hiftorians, ancient or modern, that a 
could fo certainly judge of the truth of the fails" c 
they have related. You may perhaps think, I * 
have enlarged too much in ftating fo clear a cafe : a 
But you will pleafe to remember, it is the foun- 
dation of the whole argument ; and that this ' lii 
branch of it alone cuts off infidels from that re- i 
1 Adb xxvii. 7 — 9. m % Pet. i, i5, iS, 



ir. cf Chrijtianity. 20j 

ftige, which I believe they would generally 
chiife'i that of pleading the apoftles were en- 
thufiafts; and leaves them Went, unlefs they 
will fay they were impoftors: For you evident- 
ly fee, that could we iuppofe thcfe fa£ts to be 
talfe, they could by no means pretend an in- 
voluntary miftakd, but rauft, in the mod crimi- 
nal and aggravated ienfe, as Paul hirnfelf ex- 
prefles it, be found falfe witnefles of God (n.) 
But how reafonable it would be to .charge them 
them with fo notorious a crime, wili in part ap- 
pear, if we confider, 

2. ** That the character of thefe writers, fo far as we can 
judge by their works, feems to render them worthy of 
regard, and leaves no room to imagine they intended to 
deceive- us.** 

I shall not flay to (hew at large, that they 
appear to have been perfons of natural fenfe, 
and at the time of their writing, of a compofed 
mind ; for I verily believe, no man that ever 
read the New Teltament with attention, could 
believe they were ideots or madmen. Let the 
difcourfes of Chrift in the evangelifts, of Peter 
and Paul in the Acls, as well as many pafTages 
in the epiftles be perufed ; and I will v enture to 
fay, he who is not charmed with them, muft be 
a ft ranger to all the juftelt rules of polite criti- 
cifm : But he who fufpe&s, that the writers 
wanted common fenfe, muft hirnfelf be moft 
evidently deftitute of it j and he who can fuf- 
pe«ft, they might poffibly be diftrafted, mull 
hirnfelf, in this inftance at leaft, be juft as mad 
as he imagines them to have been. 



11 I (.nr. xv. j*. 

M 2 ' 



268 



'The Evidences 



SER- IX. 



It was necefiary however juft to touch upon 
this ; becaufe, unlefs we are fatisfied, that a 
perfon be himfelf in what he writes, we cannot 
pretend to determine his character from his 
writings. Having premifed this, I mult ihtreat 
you, as you perufe the New Teitament, to ob- 
serve what evident marks it bears, of fimplicity 
and integrity, of piety and benevolence ; which 
when you have obferved, you will find them 
pleading the caufe of its authors, whh a refift- 
lefs, xhough a gentle eloquence ; and powerfully 
perfuading the mind, that men who were capa- 
ble of writing fo excellently well, are not, with- 
out the ftrongeft evidence, to be fufpected of 
acting fo deteftably ill, as we mult fuppofe they 
did, if in this folemn manner, they were carry- 
ing on an impofture, in fuch circumftances as 
attended the cafe before us. For, 

(i.) The manner in which they tell their a- 
jfriazing ftory, is moft happily adapted to gain 
our belief. For as they tell it with a great de- 
tail of circumftances, which would by no means 
be prudent in legendary writers, becaufe it leaves 
fo much the more room for confutation; fo they 
alfo do it in the moft eafy and natural manner. 
There is no air of declamation and harangue ; 
nothing that looks like artifice and defign : No 
apologies, no encomiums, no characters, no re- 
flections, no digreflions : But the facts are re- 
counted with great fimplicity, juft as they fee in 
to have happened ; and thole facts are left to 
fpeak for themfelves, and their great author. 
It is plain, that the reft of thefe writers, as w ell 
%t the apoftle Paul, did not affect excellency 01 



ser. ix. of Chriftianity. a op 

fpeech, or flights of eloquence, . (as the phrafe 
Ijgnifies), but determined to know nothing, tho* 
amongft the mod learned and polite, fave Jefus 
Chriit, even him that was crucified (o) : A con- 
duit, that is the more to be admired, when we 
coniider how extraordinary a theme theirs was, 
and with what abundant variety of moll pathe- 
tic declamation it would eafily have furniflied 
any common writer ; fo that one would really 
wonder, how they could forbear it. But they 
rightly judged, that a vain affectation' of orna- 
ment, when recording fuch a ftory as of their 
own knowledge, might perhaps have brought 
their fmcerity into queftion, and fo have ren- 
dered the crofs of Chrift of none effeCt (p.) 

(2.) Their integrity does likewife evidently 
appear in the freedom with which they mention 
thofe circurnftances, which might have expofed. 
their mailer and themfelves to the greateft con- 
tempt, amongft prejudiced and inconfiderate 
men *, fuch as they knew they mult generally 
expect to meet with. — As to their matter, they 
fcruple not to own, that his country was infa- 
mous (q), his birth and education mean (r), and 
his life indigent (s that he was molt disdain- 
fully rejected by the rulers (t), and accufed ot 
fabbath-breaking (u), blafphemy fw), and fedi- 
tion (x); that he was reviled by the populace, 
as a debauchee (y), a lunatic (z), and a daemo- 

o t Cor. ii. 1, 2. p 1 Cor. i, 17. -q John i. 45, 46^ 
vii. 52. r Luke ii. 4 — 7. Mat. xiii. 55. Mark vi. 3. 

Mat. viiL 20. Luke viii. 3. t John vii. 48. 1 Con. 
ii. 8. u John v. 16. ix. 16". w Mat. ix. 3. xxvi. 65, 
John x. 31—36", x Luke xxiii. 2. John xix. v Ma^ 

9j. z$. Luke vii. 34. z John x. 2Q. 

M3 



£lo • ¥he Evidences ■ SER. I3£ 

iliac (a) ; and at laft, by the united rage of bcth 
rulers and people, was publicly executed as the 
vileft of malefactors, with all imaginable cir- 
cumftances of ignominy, fcorn and abhorrence 
(b) : Nor do they fcruple to own, that terror 
and diltrefs of fpirit into which he was thrown 
by his fufferings (c), though this was a circum- 
itance at which fome of the heathens took the 
greateft offence, as utterly unworthy fo excel- 
lent and divine a perfon. — As to themfelves, the 
apoftles readily confefs, not only the meannefs 
of their original employments (d), and the fcan- 
dais of their former life (e); but their prejudi- 
ces, their follies, and their faults, after Chrift 
had honoured them with fo holy a calling : 
They acknowledge their flownefs of apprehen- 
sion under fo excellent a teacher (f), their unbe- 
lief, (g), their cowardice (h , their ambition (i), 
their ra(h zeal (k), and their foolith contentions 
Hfy So that on the wliole, they feem every 
where to forget, that they are writing of them- 
felves, and appear not at all folicitous about their 
Own reputation, but only that they might re- 
prefent the matter juft as it was, whether they 
went through honour or dilhonour, through 

- a John viio 20. viii. 48. b. Mat. XXvii, 3 2—44. c: Mat, 
xxvi. 38. Luke xxii. 44 Mat. xxvii. 46. d Mat. i v. iS.~- 
sti. Luke v. 10. e Mat. ix. 9. x. 3. Luke v. 8. Acts 
xxii. 4, 5. xxvi. 11. 1 Tim. i. i3, 15. f Mark ix. 32. 
Luke ix. 45. xviii. 34. Mat. xvi. 22. 23. g Mat. viii. 26. 
kvv. 20. Mark. xvi. 14. Luke xxiv. 25. John xx. 24— -2 7* 
n Mat. xxvi. 56", 6p — 74 Gal. li. 11 — 14. i Mat, xx. 2c.--- 
34. Mark x. 35 — 44. Luke ix. 46. xxii. 24, 26. k Luke 
ix. 54, Mark ix. 38- 1 Mark ix ? 34. Arts xv. 37—40, 



SER- IX. of Chriflianity* 2 1 1 

evil report or good report (m). Nor is this all ; 
for, 

(3.} It is certain, that there are in their writ- 
ings the molt genuine traces, not only of a plain 
and honeft, but a moil pious and devout, a moft 
benevolent and generous difpofition. Thefe ap- 
pear efpecially in the epiftolary parts of the New 
Teftament, where indeed we mould moft rea- 

I fonabiy expeft to find them : And of thefe I 
may confidently affirm, that the greater progrefs 
any one has made, in love to God (n), in zeal 
for his glory (o), in a rompalfionate and gene- 

1 rous concern for the prefent and future happi- 
nefs of mankind (p) ; the more humble (q), and 
candid (r), and temperate, (s), and pure (t) he 
is , the more ardentiy he loves truth, and the 
mere fteadily he is determined to fufter the 
greatest extremity in its defence (u) ; in a word 
the more his heart is weaned from the prefent 
world (w), and the more it is fired with the 
profpefts of .a glorious immortality (x) ; the 

m 2 Cor. vi. S. n 1 Cor. viii. 3. Tit. iii. 4—7 1 John 
iy. 16 — 21. v. 1 — 3. o Rom, vi. 11, 13. xii. 1. xiv. 7, 
8. 1 Cor. vi. 20. x. 31. 2 Cor. iv. 15. 1 Pet. iv. 11, 
p Acts xx. 20, 21, 31 — 35. xxvi. 20, Horn. ix. 1— 3. 
xiii. 8 — 10. xv. i, 2. 1 Cor, x. 24. 2 Cor. xii. 15. Gal, 
\i. io. Phil. ii. 4. 1 Their, ii. 7, 8, 11, 12. 1 Tim. ii. 1. 
q Rom. xii. 3, 16. 1 Cor. xv. 9, 10. Eph. iii. S. Col. iii. 

12. 1 Tim. L 13, 15. 1 Pet. v. 5. r Rom xiv. 3, 10, 

13, 19. *v. 1,2. 1 Coi £ . viii. 9—13. xiii. 4—7. Gal. 

v. 22. s Rom. xiii. 13, 14. 1 Cor. ix. 27. Gal. v. 24. 
Coi. iii. 5. 2 Pet. i. 6 t t 2 Cor. vii. 1. Phil. iv. 8. 
I Thcff. iv. 3, 4. 2 Tim. ii. 21. Hefc. x. 22. xii. 14. 
James i. 27. 1 John iii f 3. u A<3:$ xx. 24. 2 Cor. i. 12. 
iv. 2. xiii. 8. Phil. ii. 17, 18. 2 Tim. iv. 7. w 2 Cor. 
iv. 18. Gal. vi. 14. Phil. iv. 11, 12. Coi. iii. 2. 1 Tim. 

vi, 6, 10. 2 Tim, ii. 3, 4. 1 John ii. 15, 16. x 2 Cor. v. 



212 



The Evidences 



SER. IX 



more pleafure will he take in reading thofe writ- 
ings, the more will he relifh the fpirit which 
diicovers itfelf in them, and find, that as face 
anfwers to face in water, fo do the traces of 
piety and goodnefs, which appear there, anfwer 
to thofe which a good man feels in his own 
foul. Nay, I will add, that the warm and ge- 
nuine workings of that excellent and holy tem- 
per, which every where difcovers itfelf in the 
New Testament, have for many ages been the 
most effectual means of fpreading a fpirit of 
virtue and piety in the world y and what of it 
is to be found in thefe degenerate days, feems 
principally owing to thefe incomparable and 
truly divine writings. 

[Where then there are fuch genuine marks 
of an excellent character, not only in laboured 
difcourfes, but in epistolary writings, and thofe 
fometimes addreifed to particular and intimate 
friends, to whom the mind naturally opens itfelf 
with the greatest freedom, furely no candid and 
equitable judge would lightly believe them to 
be all counterfeit ; or would imagine, without 
strong proof, that perfons who breathe fuch ex- 
alted- fentiments of virtue and piety, fhould be 
guilty of any notorious wiekednefs : And in 
proportion to the degree of enormity and ag- 
gravation attending fuch a fuppofed crime, it 

I— -S. Phil, i. 21 — 23. 2 Tim. i. 12. iv. 8. Tit. ii. 13. 

N. B. Thofe who are acquainted with the New Testa- 
ment will know, that this is but a fmall fpe^inien of the text 
which might eafily be collected on each of thefe heads : Yet 
were the energy of thefe few attentively con-Iidered, I cannot 
but think, that every well difpofed mind would be deeply 
struck^ and powecful-Iy ccmvinced by thern. 



"STIR. IX. of Clrijtiamty. 213 

may justly be expedted, that the evidence of 
thfcir having really committed it, ftiould be un- 
anfwefably strong and convincing. 

Now it is moil certain, on the principles laid 
down above, that if the testimony of the apo- 
'ftks was falfe, they mud have acred as detecta- 
ble and villainous a part, as one can eafily con- 
ceive. To be found (as the apoitle with his 
uiual energy expreiTes it), falfe witnefles of God 
(y), in any tingle inftance, and folemnly to de- 
clare him miraculouily to have dene, what we 
know in our own confeiences was never done 
at all, would be an audacious degree of impiety, 
to which none but the moft abandoned of man- 
kind could arrive. Yet, if the teftimony of the 
apoftles was falfe, as we have proved they could 
not be themfelves miftaken in it, this muft have 
been their^ conduct, and that, not in one (ingle 
inftance only, but in a thoufand. Their life 
muft, in effect, be one continued and perpetual 
fcene of perjury; and all the moft folemn ac- 
tions of it, (in which they were fpeaking to God, 
or fpeaking of him as the God and Father of 
Ghrift, from whom they received their million 
and powers), muft be a moft profane and daring 
infult: on all the acknowledged perfections of 
his' nature. 

And the inhumanity of fuch a conduct would, 
on the whole, have been equal to its impiety ; 
For it was deceiving men in their moft impor- 
tant interetts, . %nd perfuading them to venture 
their whole future happinefs on the power and 
kdelity of one, whom on this fuppohaon, they 

y 1 Cor, xv. 15, 



214 The Evidences ser. IX. 

knew to have been an impoftop, and juitly to 
have luffered a capital puftiihmenl tor his 
crimes. 

It would have been great guilt, to have giver, 
the hearts and devotions of men fo wrong a 
turn, even though they had tGund magifirates 
ready to eipoufe and eftablifh, yea, and 10 in- 
force the religion they raught. But to labour 
to propagate it in the midit of the moil vigo- 
rous and fevere opposition ftrorti them, miift e-> 
qually inhance the guilt, and lolly of the un- 
dertaking : For by this means they made them - 
felves accedary to the ruin of thouiands $ and all 
the calamities, which fell on inch profelytes, or 
even on their remoteft descendants, for the lake 
of chriftianity, would be in a great meafure 
chargeable on thefe firit preachers of it. The 
blood of honeft, yea, and (fuppofing them, as 
you muft, to have been involuntarily deceived), 
of pious, worthy, and heroic perfons, who might 
otherwise have been the greater! blelfings to the 
public, would, in efieifc, be crying for venge- 
ance againft them ; and the diftrefles of the wi- 
dows and orphans, which thofe martyrs might 
leave behind them, would join to fweii the ac- 
count. 

So that on the whole, the guilt of thofe ma- 
lefactors, who are from time to time the victims 
of public justice, even for robbery, murder, or 
treafon, is fmall, when compared with that 
which we have now been fuppofing : And cor- 
rupt as human nature is, it appears to me ut- 
terly improbable, that twelve men mould be 
found, I will not f ay, in one ii/tle nation, but 



ser. IX. ofXlhrijllamty. 2i£ 

even on the whole face of the earth, who could 
be capable of entering into fo black a confede- 
racy, on any terms whatsoever. 

And now, in this view of the cafe make a 
ferious paufe, and compare with it, what we 
have just been faying of the character of the 
apostles of Jefus, fo far as an indifferent perfon 
could conjecture it from their writings ; and 
then fay, whether you can in your hearts be- 
lieve them to have been thefe abandoned 
wretches, at once the reproach and astonimment 
of mankind ? You cannot furely believe fuch 
things of any ; and much left of them, unlefs 
it (hall appear, they were in fome peculiar cir- 
cumstances of strong temptation , and what 
thofe circumstances could be, it is difficult even 
for imagination to conceive. 

But history is fo far from foggefting any un- 
thought-of fa£t to help our imagination on this 
head, that it bears ftrongly the contrary way \ 
and hardly any part of my work is eafier, than 
to ihew,] 

3. " That they were under no temptation to forge a 
story of this kind, or to publifh it to the world, knowing 
it to be falfe." 

They could reafonably expert no gain, no 
reputation by it : But on the contrary, fuppof- 
ing it an impofture, they muft, with the moft 
ordinary (hare of prudence, have forefeen in^ 
famy and ruin, as the certain confequences of 
attempting it. For the grand foundation of 
their fcheme was, that Jeius of Nazareth, who 
w r as crucified at Jerufalem by the Jewifh rulers, 
was the Son of God, and the Lord of all things/ 



21 6 The Evidences sei 

I appeal to your confciences, whether this 
at all like the contrivance of artful and de 
ing men. It was evidently charging upor 
princes of their country the moft crimina 
aggravated murder ; indeed, all things c 
dered, the moft enormous aft of wicked * 
which the fun had ever feen. They r 
therefore depend upon it, that thefe r 
would immediately employ all their art 
power, to confute their teftimony, and t< 
itroy their perfons. Accordingly one of 
was* prefendy stoned (z), and another qu 
after beheaded (a) ; and most of the rest 
fcattered abroad into strange cities (b), v* 
they would be fure to be received with ; 
prejudices raifed against them amongst the 
by reports from Jerufalem *, and V 

z Acts vii, 59, a A£h xii, a, b Acts viii, 1, 4, xi 
f [I do not here mention Philo Judaeus, as fpeaki 
of " an embaffy fent from the Jews in his early d'< 
their brethern in all parts of the world exhorting th 
refist the progrefs of Christianity." For though ] 
Atterbury afferts, that there is fuch a paffage, (Serm. 
I. page 117,) I have never been able to find, or to h 
it ; and therefore am ready to believe, it was a very p; 
able flip of his Lordfhip's memory, aod that the paflj 
intended to refer to, was a very celebrated and imp 
one in Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho the Ji 
which he exprefsly afferts fuch a fact in a manner v 
his integrity and good fenfe would never have permitte 
he not certainly known it be true. For he addreffi 
learned Jew, with whom he was difputing, in thefe r 
rable words, " You were fo far from repenting of the 
you had committed, (in crucifying Christ), that yc 
vhofen men of the most distinguiftied character all ov 
world, reprefenting the christians as an atheistical fee" 
charging us with thofe things which the ignorant he. 



S V.R. IX. of Chnsilaniiy. 21 7 

rengthened by the expectations of a temporal 
i? [elhah; expectations } which, as the apostles 
lew by their own experience, it was exceed- 
ig difficult to root out of men's minds ; ex- 
sftatioriSj whieh would render the do&rine 
hrist crucified, an infeparable stumbling-b 
) the Jews (c). 
Nor could they expect a much better recep- 
on amongst the Gentiles with whom their 
; ufinefs was, to perfuade them to renounce the 
ods of their ancestors, and to depend on a per- 
Dii who had died the death of a melafacior 
« nd a flave *, to perfuade them to forego the 
porripoiis idolatries in which they had been ed.u- 
ated, and all the fenfual indulgences with 
rhich their religion, (if it might be criled a re- 
gion,) was attended, to worfliip one invifible 
I rod through one Mediator, in the most plain 
and fimple manner ; *nd to receive a fet of 
recepts, most directly calculated to controul 
id restrain, not only the enormities of men's 
'lions, but the irregularities of their hearts. 
A most difficult undertaking ! And to ene-ao-e 
hem to this, they had no other arguments to 
ring, but fuch as were taken from the views 
f an invifible state of happinefs, or miiery, of 
' diich they averted their crucified Jefus to be 
ie fupreme diipofer - 5 who ihouid another day 

' oject againf) us." Juftin. Mart. Dialog, cum Tryph. pag- 
71. Thirlb. — Eufebius, and Origen, have both mentioned 

the fame facl, which is in i tie If very probable; and there 
say poffibly be fame reference to it, Acts xxvlii. n. where 
^5 jews at Rome lay, " As concerning this feci (df-ChlPisti- 
nity), we know that it is everywhere fpoken againft.] 
c 1 Cor. i. 23. 

N 



The Evidences 



SER, IX. 



difpenfe'hi* bleflings, or his vengeance, as the 
goipel had been embraced, or rejected. Now 
could it be imagined, that men would eafily be 
perfuaded, merely on the credit of their affir- 
mation, or in compliance with their importu- 
nity, to believe things which to their prejudi- 
ced minds would appear fo improbable, and to 
fubmit to impofitions, to their corrupt inclina- 
tions fo infupportable ? And if they could not 
perfuade them to it, what could the Apoftles 
then expeft ?> What, but to be infultcd as fools 
or madmen, by one fort of people \ and by a- 
nother, to be perfecuted with the moft fayage 
arid outrageous cruelty, as blafphemers of the 
Gods, as feducers of the people, and as diflurbers 
of the public peace ? All which we know ac- 
cordingly happened (d) : Nay, they affure us, 
that their Lord had often warned them of it (e) \ 
and that they themfelves expected it (f), and 
thought it neceflary to admonifh their followers 
to expeft it too (g) : and it appears, that far from 
drawing back upon that account, as they would 
furely have done if they had been governed by 

cl [Compare Acts v. 40. vii. 57, 58. viii. 1. ix 1, 2. 
xxvi. 10, 11*. ix. 23, 24. xii. 1 — 4. xiii. 50. xiv. 5, 19. 
xvi. 19---24. xvii. 5 — S. xviii. 12, 13, xx. 3. xxi. 27, 
2S. xxii. 22. xxiii. 14. all which texts relate to the per- 
fections of the Chrirrians, either by Jews or Gentiles : And 
compare all the fcriptures cited in the lafk note on this 
Sermon.] 

e Mat. x. 16 — 25. xxiii. 34. Mark x. 25?, 30, 39. Luke 
xiv. 27. xxi. 12, 17. John xv. 20, 21. xvi. 2 — 33. x\:, 
18.19. AcT-six. 16. f A&s xx. 23, 24. xxi. 13. 1 Cor. 
iv. 9. 2 Cor. xii. 10. ^ J TherT. iii. 3. 4. 2 Tim. iv. 6*. 
g Acls xiv. 22. 2 Tim. iii. 12. iv. 5. James y. 10, II. 
X Fet ii. 20, 2$ iv. 1, 12 — 16. v. 9. 



SER. IX, of Chri/lianity. 219 

fecular motives, they become fo much the more 
zealous and courageous, and encouraged each 
other to re fi ft even to blood (h).— Now as this 
is a great evidence of the integrity and piety of 
their character, and thus iliuftrates the former 
head \ fo it ferves to the purpofe now immediate- 
ly in view, that is, it proves how improbable it 
is, that any perfon of common fenfe mould 
engage in an Impofture, from which (as many 
have juftly obferved,) they could, on their own 
principles, have nothing to expect, but ruin in 
this world, and damnation in the next. When 
therefore we confider, and compare their charac- 
ter, and their circumftanees, it appears utterly 
improbable on various accounts, that they would 
have attempted in this article to impofe upon the 
world. But fuppofe, that in confequence of 
fome unaccountable, as well as undifcoverable 
frenzy, they had ventured on the attempt, it is 
eafy to (hew, 

4. " That humanly fpeaking, - they must quickly have 
perifhed in it, and their fbolilh caufe must have died 
with them, without ever gaining any credit in the 
world." 

One may venture to fay this in general, on the 
principles which I before laid down : but it ap- 
pears itiil more evident, when we confider the 
nature of the falft they aiTerted, in conjunction 
with the methods they took to engage men to 
believe it: methods, which had the Apoftles been 
fcnpofters, muft have had the most direfh 
tendency to ruin bpth their Scheme and them- 
felves. 



h Heb. xii. a, 

NT 2 ' 



220 The Evidences SER. ix, 

( i ). Let us a little more particularly refleft 
on the nature of that grand fadt, the death, refur- 
reclion, and exaltation of Chrift ; which, as I 
obferved, was the great foundation of the 
chriftian fcheme, as flrft exhibited by the 

Apoftles. The refurre&ion of a dead man 

and his afcenfion into, and abode in the upper 
world, was fo ftrange a thing, that a thoufand 
objeftions would immediately be raifed againft 
it; and fome extraordinary proof would juftJy 
be required as a balance to them. Now I wifh 
the rejecters of the gofpel would fet themfelves 
to invent fome hypothefis/ which fhould have 
any appearance of probability, to {hew how fuch 
an amazing ftory Ihould ever gain credit in the 
world, if it had not fome very convincing proof- 
Where, and when, could it flrft begin to be 
received ? Was it in the fame, or a fucceeding 
age ? Was it at Jerufalem, the fpot of ground 
on which it is laid to have happened, or in 
6reece, or Italy, or Afia, or Africa ? You may 
change the fcene, and the time, as you pleafe, 
but you cannot change the difficulty. 

Take it in a parallel inftance. Suppofe 
twelve men in London were now to affirm, that 
a perfon executed there as a maiefadtor in a 
public manner, a month, or fix weeks ago, or if 
you pleafe, a year, or five, or ten years fmce, 
(for it is much the fame), was a prophet fent 
from God with extraordinary powers, that he 
was raifed from the dead, that they converfed 
with him after his revival, and at laft faw him 
taken up into heaven : would their united 
teftimony make them be believed there ? — *n 



SER. IX. of Chrlfiianitj. 2 2 1 

Or fuppofe them, if you pleafe, to difperfe, and 
that one or two of them Ihould come hither, and 
go on to more diftant places, fuppofe Lercefter, 
Nottingham, or York, and teil their ftory there ; 
and that others were to carry it over to Paris, 
or Amfterdam, or to Vienna, or Madrid : could 
they expeft any more credit with us, or with 
them ; or hope for any thing better, than to be 
looked upon as lunatics, and treated as fuch ? 

L And if they fhould go into other places, 

and attempt to mend their fcheme, by faying 
their mailer was put to death 100, or 200 years 
ago, when there could be no hiltorical evidence 
of it difcovei'ed, and no proof given but their 
own confident aiTertion : would they remove, or 
would they not rather increafe, the difficulty ? 

^ Or would they, in any of thefe cafes, gain. 

credit by the mo ft dextrous tricks or legerder- 
main, of which you can fuppofe them marl is ? 
Efpecially if they mould undertake, in corde- 
quence of fuch fuppofed fa&s, to engage men 
to renounce the religion in which they had been 
educated ; to deny th^mielves in their deareii: 
paffions, and moft important worldly interefts ; 
and even, probably, to hazard their liberties and 
their lives, in dependence on a future reward, 
to be received in a place and (late, which no 
man living on earth Imd ever feen or. known ? 
You would readily allow this to be an infuppo- 
fabie cafe : and why fhould you fuppofe it to 
have happened fixteen or fcventeen hundred 
years ago ? you may allure yourfelves, that the 
realon, and the paffions of mankind, were then 
N 3 • 



-22 



The Evidences 



SER. IX. 



as ftrong, as they are now.— But let us a little 
more particularly confider, 

(2.) The manner, in which the Apoftles 
undertook to prove the truth of their teltimony 
to this fact 5 and it will evidently appear, that 
irrfteadof con firming their fchcme, it mull have 
been fufficient utterly to hare overthrown it, 
had it been itfelf the moft probable impoRure 
that the wit of man could ever have contrived. 
— You know, they did not merely afTert, that 
they had feen miracles wrought by this Jefus, 
but that he had endowed themfelves with a 
variety of miraculous powers. And thefe they 
undertook to difplay, not in fuch idle and ufe- 
lefs tricks "as Height of hand might perform, but 
in fuch folid and important works, as appealed 
worthy a divine interpofition, and entirely fupe- 
rior to human power: refloring, as they pretend, 
fight to the blind, foundneft to lepers, activity 
to the lame, and in fome inftances, life to the 
dead. Nor were thefe things undertaken in a 
corner, in a circle of friends, or dependants ; 
nor were they faid to be wrought on fuch, as 
might be fufpeeted of being confederates in 
the fraud : but they were dene often in the 
public ftreets, in the fight of enemies, on the 
perfons of fuch, a3 were utter ftrangers to the 
Apoftles, bift: fometimes well known to neigh- 
bours and fpeftators, as having long laboured 
under thefe calamities, to human (kill utterly 
incurable (i). Would impoftoi s have made fuch 
pretentions as thefe ? Qr if they had, mult ther 
' not immediately have been expofed and ruined ? 

i Actsiii. 1 — iq. v. 15. ix. 5^—42. xiv. 8— iq. xix. 11, 

12. xs. 9 — 12. xxviii. 7 — p» 



§ER. IX. of Christianity 223 

Nor is there any room at ail to object, that 
perhaps the Apoftles might not undertake to do 
thefe things on the fpot, but only aflert they 
had done them elfewhere : for even then, it 
would have been impoffible they fhould have 
gamed credit ; and they would have feemed the 
Jefs credible, on account of fuch a pretence. 

j Whatever appearances there might have been 
of gravity, integrity and piety, in. the conveyfa- 

I tion of Peter, (for inftance), very few, efpecially 
few that had known but little of him, would 
have taken it upon his word, that he faw Jefu3 
raife Lazarus from the dead at Bethany : 

I but fewer yet would have believed it upon 
his affirmation, had it been ever fo folemn, 

I that he had himfelf raifed Dorcas at Joppa ; 
unlefs he had done fome extraordinary work 

! before them, correfpondent at leaft, if not 
equal to that. You will eafily think of invinci- 
ble objections, which otherwise might have been 
made \ and undoubtedly, the more fuch afler- 
tions have been multiplied, every new perfon, 
and fcene, and fact, had been an additional ad- 

1 vantage given to the enemy, to have detected 
and* confuted the whole fcheme, which Peter 

I and his afiociate^s had thus endeavoured to 
eftablifh. 

But to come ftill clofer to the point : If the 
New Teftament be genuine,- (as I have already 
proved it), then it is certain, that the Apoftles 
pretend to have wrought miracles in" the very 
prefeuce of thofe, to whom their writings were 
N4 - 



224 C fl 3e Evidences ser ix. 

addreiTed ; nay more, they profefs likewife to 
have conferred thofe miraculous gifts, in fome 
confiderabie degrees, on others (k), even on the 
very per ions to whom they write ; and they ap- 
peal to their confciences as to the truth of it. 
And could there poffibly be room for delulion 
here ? It is exceedingly remarkable to this pur- 
pofe, that Paul makes this appeal to the Corin- 
thians (1;, and Galatians Yrri), when there were 
amongit them fome perfons difaffected to him, 
who were taking all opportunities to link his 
character, and deitroy his influence : and could 
they have w^ifhed for a better opportunity, than 
fuch an appeal ? An appeal, which, had not the 
facl it fuppofed been certain, far from recover- 
ing thofe that were wavering in their efteem, 
muft have been fufficient utterly to difguft his 
moil cordial and lteady friends. — And the 
fame remark may be appplied to the advices and 
reproofs, which the Apoftle there gives, relating 
to the ufe and abufe of their fpiritual gifts (n) ; 
which had been mod notorioufiy abfurd, and 
even ridiculous, had not the chriftians to whom 
he wrote, been really poffefled of them. And 
thefe gifts were fo plainly fupernatural, that 
(as it has often been obferved), if it be allowed, 
that miracles can prove a divine revelation, and 
that the firft epiftle to the Corinthians be genuine, 
(of which, by the way, there is at least as preg- 
nant evidence, as that any part of the New 

k Adts viii. 17. xix. 6. 1 1 Cor. i. 5, 7. ii. 4, 5. ix. 2. 

xii. 8— it, 28 — 30. xiv. 1 — iS, 26, ieq. 2 C01. xi. 5, 6. 

xii. 12, 13. xiii. 3, 10. m Gai. hi. 2, 5. n 1 Cor. xii. I 
— 7. xiv. per tot. 



SER. IX. cf 'Christianity. 22$ 

Testament is fo*), then it follows by a fure and 
eafy confequence, that Christianity is true. 
Nevertheiefs other arguments are not to be for- 
got in this furvey. And therefore, as I have 

proved under this head, that had the testimony 
of the Apostles been falfe, it is not to be imagin- 
ed, that they could have gained credit at all ; 
and efpecially, when they had put the proof of 
their caufe on fuch a footing, as we are fure 
they did j I am now to fhew you, 

5. " That it is certain in fact, that the Apostles did gain 
early credit,, and lucceeded in a most wonderful man- 
ner from whence it will follow, that their testimony- 
was true. 

. That the Apostles did indeed gain credit in 
the world, is evident, from what i before offer- 
ed to prove the early prevalence of Christianity 
in it j and may farther be confirmed, from many 
paflages in the New Testament. And here, L 
infist not fo much on exprefs historical testimo- 
nies, though fome of them are very remarkable; 
especially that of the brethren at Jerufalem, who 
fpeak of many myriads of believing Jews affem- 
bled at the feast of pentecost (o). But I argue 
from the epiftles written to fever al churches, 
which plainly prove, that there were congrega- 
tions of christians in Rome, Corinth, Epheius 
Colofle, Theffalonica, Philippi, Laodicea (pj 

* I cannot but look upon it as a kind and remarkable 
providence to this purpofe, that there, is ltill„extai:t an epiftle 
of Clemens Romanus to the church at Corinth, probably 
written before the year cf Chrift 7c, in which he plainly re- 
fers to 1 Cor. i. ii. in what he cites from " an epiftle of Paul 
written to them by the Spirit at his firit preaching fefee gof 
among them.'' Clem. Epiit r. ad. Cor. §. 47," 
o Acts s^i. 20. p Cvi. iy. io. 

N5 



126 The Evidences SER. IX. 

Smyrna, Fergamos, Thyatira, Safdis, Phila- 
delphia, <q), Crete (r), Pontus, Galatia, C^ppa- 
docia, Ana, and Bithynia (s), ind many otner 
places infomuch that one of the Apostles could 
fay, that Christ had fo wrought by him, to make 
the Gentiles obedient, not only in word or pro- 
feffion, but in deed too 5 that from Jerufalem, 
even round about into Illyricum, he had fully 
preached the gofpel of Christ (t), or as the word 
imports, had accomplifhed the purpofes of it. 
And there is a great deal of reafon, both from 
the nature of the thing, and from the tesimony 
of ancient history J, to believe, that others of 
the Apostles had confiderabie fuccefs elfewhcre : 
fo that Paul might with reafon apply to therr^ 
and their doctrine, what is originally fpolcen of 
trie luminari e s of heaven and the instruction they 
communicate, their line is gene cut through ail 
the earth, and their words to the ends of the 
world (u). 

So great was the number of thofe, who were 
..profelyted to Christianity by the preaching of 
the Apostles : and we have ail imaginable reafon 
to believe, that there were none of all thefe pro- 
"felytes, but what were fully perfuaded of the 
truth of the testimony they bore \ for otherwife, 
no imaginable reafon can be given for their 
entering themfelves into fuch a profeffion. The 
Apostles had no fecular terrors to affright them, 
no fecular rewards to bribe them*, no dazzling 

q Rev. ii. and iii. r Tit. i. 5. si Pit. i. I. t Rom. 
XV- 18, 19. tEufeb. Histor. Ecclef. Lib. iii « cap. L u Com- 
pare Rom. x. iS. and Pfal. xix. 4. 

* As for the diftribution of goods in Judea, it is plain it 
v/as peculiar to that time and country ; and tpe extraordU 
Jiary perfecutior:, which from the very infancy of Chriftianity 



SER. IX. of Chrijiianity, 227 

eloquence to enchant them (w) : the contrary 
all thefe were in a power! ul manner pleading 
against the Apostles : yet their testimony was 
received^ and their new converts, were fo 
thoroughly fatisfied with the evidence which 
they gave them of their million, that they 
encountered great perfecutions, and chearfully 
ventured eftate, liberty and life itfelf, on the 
truth of the fa£ts they aflerted ; as plainly ap- 
pears from many paflages in the epilties, which 
none can think the Apoftles would have ever 
writ, if thefe firft chriftians had not been in a 
perfecuted condition (x). 

Nor will it fignify any thing to obje<ft, that 
moft of thefe converts were perfons of a low 
rank, and ordinary education, who therefore 
might be more eafily impofed upon than others f 
for (not to mention Sergius Pauius, Dionyfius 
the Areopagite, or the domeiticks of Caeiar^s 
houfhokl, with others of fuperior Itations in life), 
it is fufficient to remind you, that, as I have 
largely ihewn, the Apoftles did not put their 
caule on the iiTue ot laboured arguments, in 
which the populace might quickly have been 
entangled and loll, but oil fuch plain facls, as 

prevailed then-, was more tSian an equivalent for any advan- 
tage, which the pooreft of the people could gain by it. I did 
not therefore think it neceilary to mention it. 

w "i Cor, i. 17. ii. 1, 4, 13. % Cor, x. ro. xi. 6. x Rom. 
via. 36. 1 Cor. iv. ir— 13. xv. 29— -32. 2 Cor. i. S. 9. iv. 8 
vi. 4, 5, 9. xi. 23 — 27. Gal. vi. 17. Phil. i. 2S — 36. 
I Theff. i. 6. ii. 14, 15. 2 TheH*. i. 4— -7. 2 Tim. I S: u. 
3, 9, 12, 13. iii. ii, ii. Heb. x. 32— -34. James ii. 0. v 

10, ir. 1 Pet. ii. 19, 2c. iii. 14—17. iv. 1, 12—16'. Rev 

11. 10, 13. 

N6 



228 The Evidences ) tsfc. ser. 

they might judge of as eafily and furely, as any 
others ^ indeed, on what they themfelves faw, 
and in part too, on what they felt. 

Now I apprehend, this might be fufficient to 
bring the matter to a fatisfa&ory conclusion. 
You have feen, that as there is no reafon to 
believe, that the Apoftles, who certainly knew 
the truth, would have attempted a fraud of this 

kind ; fo if they had attempted it, they could 

not poffibly have fucceeded neverthelefs they 
did fucceed in a very remarkable manner \ — : — 
whence it plainly follows, that what they teftifi- 
ed was true. 

And now then, after this, the reafonablenefs 
of receiving the gofpel, on admitting the truth 
of what they testified concerning Chrift, is an 
eafy confequence — Yet fome things are to be 
offered under this head, which are of great 
weight, and would not fo conveniently have 
fallen under any of the former j and fome con- 
fiderable additional evidence to the truth of 
chriftianity arifes, from what has happened in 
the world, fince its firft propagation. And 
therefore I chufe rather to make a diftinft dif- 
courfe on thefe, with the improvement of the 
whole, than to throw together the hints of them, 
in fo hafly a manner as I muft do, ihould I 
attempt to difpatch the fubjecT: in this difcourfe, 
thejuft limits of which I have already tranf- 
greffed, left the great chain of the argument 
ihould be broken. 



SERMON X. 



Additional Evidences of Christianity, and 
Reflections on the whole. 



•**S I had before proved the books of the New 
Teftament to be genuine, I proceeded in my laft 
difcourfe, to -argue from thence the certain truth 
of the chriftian revelation ; and we have made 
fome confiderable progrefs in the argument. 

The matter in fhort ftands thus. The au- 
thors of the New Teftament certainly knew, 
whether the facts they afierted were true., or 
falfe ; fo that they could not themfelves be 

deceived: Neither can we think they would 

attempt to deceive others, fmce they appear by 
their manner of writing, to have been perfons 

of great integrity and goodnefs 5 ■ and it is 

likewife evident, they could have no temptation 

to attempt a fraud of this nature : -However 5 

if they had attempted it, we cannot imagine 
they could have gained credit in the world, if 
the fails they afierted had not been true - 
neverthelefs they did gain credit in a very 
remarkable manner ; from whence it plainly fol- 
lows, that thofefatts were true.— New I am :c 



2 Pet. i. 16. 

W e have not followed cunningly devifed 
Fables . ■ 




230 The Evidences ser, X. 

{hew farther, to compleat the proof of our grand 
proportion, 

6. " That admitting the facts which they teftined con- 
cerning Chrift to be true, then it was reafonable for their 
contemporaries, and is reafonable for us, to receive the 
gofpel which they have tranfmitted to us, as a divine 
revelation." 

The great thing they afierted was, that Jefus 
was the Chrift, and that he was proved to be 
fo, — by prophecies accomplished in him, — and 
by miracles wrought by him, and by others in 
his name. Let us attend to each of thefe, and 
I am perfuaded we {hall find them no contemp- 
tible arguments but mufi be forced to acknow- 
ledge, that the premifes being eftablimed, the 
conciufion moft eafily and necefiarily follows ; 
and this conciufion, that Jefus is the Chrift, 
taken in all its extent, is an abftraft of the gofpel 
revelation, and therefore is fometimes put for 
the whole of it (a\ 

The Apoftl^s efpecially when difputing with 
the Jews, did frequently argue from " the pro- 
phecies of the Old Teftament in which, they 
lay, many things were exprefsly foretold, which 
were moft literally and exactly fulfilled in Jefus 
of Nazareth (b). Now, greatly to the evidence, 
confirmation, and advantage of chvifiiamty, fo 
it is, that thefe prophecies are to this day extant 
in their original language ; and this, in the hands 
o N f a people, moft implacably aver fe to the gofpel : 
fo that, an attentive reader may ftiil, in a great 

a A6ts viii. 37. ix. 22. xvii. 3. xviii. 5. 1 John ii. 22. 
v. 1. b Acxsii. 25—31. iii. iS — 25. vii. 37. viii. 35. x. 
43. xiii. 23, 27, 3^—37, 40, 41. xvii. 2, 3. xxvL'22, 23^ 



SER. X. of Chrijiianity. 23 1 

meafure* fatisfy himfelf, as to the validity of the 
argument drawn from them. 

On fearching thefe ancient and important 
records, we find, not only in the general, that 
God intended to raife up for his people an 
illuftrious deliverer, who, amongft other glorious 
titles, is fometimes called the Mefliah, or the 
anointed one (c) : but we are more particularly 
told, that this great event mould happen, before 
the government ceafed in the tribe of Judah (d) ; 
while the fecond temple was Handing (e) ; and 
a little before its deitru&ion, about 490 years 
after a command given to rebuild Jerufalem (f ) ; 
which was probably iffued out m the feventh 
year of Artaxerxes Longimarius, or at lead with- 
in a few years before, or after it. It is predict- 
ed that he Ihould be the feed of Abraham (g; , 
born of a virgin, of the houfe of David fhj, m 
the town of Bethlehem (i) ; that he fnould be 
anointed with an extraordinary effufion of the 
divine fpirit (k), in virtue of which, he Ihould 
riot only be a perfect and illuftrious example of 
univerfai holinefs and goodnefs (1), but ihould 
gifo perform many extraordinary and beneficial 
miracles (m) ; neverthelefs, that, for want of ex- 
ternal pomp and fplendour, he fhouid be reject- 
ed and infulted by the Jews (n), and at length 
be cut off and flain by them (o). It is added, 
that he mould arife from the dead before his 

c Dan. ix. 25, 26: Pfal. ii. 2. cl Gen. xlix. 10. e Hag-, 
ii. ~ n 9. f Dan. ix. 25—27. g Gen. xii. 3. xviii. iS. xxu. 
j8. h Ha. vii. 14. xi. 1. Jer. xxiii. 5, 6. i JVlic. V. 2,. 
k Ifa. xlii'i, 1. lxi. 1. 1 Ifa, xiii. 1, 4. liii, 9. Pfal. xlv. 7, 
m Ifa. xxxv. sj 6. n Ifa. liii. 2—4. Ifa. iiii. 7—- 9. 



23 Z The E vide /ices , SER. x 

body fhould be corrupted in the grave (p) ; and 
ihould be received up to heaven, and there fear- 
ed at the right hand of God (q) : from whence 
he fhould in a wonderful manner, pour out his 
fpirit on his followers (r) ; in confequence of 
which, though the body of the Jewiih People 
perished in their obftinate oppofition to him ^s), 
yet, the Gentiles ihould be brought to the know- 
ledge of the true God (t), and a kingdom eita- 
blifhed amongfl them, which from fmall begin- 
nings ihould fpread itieff to the ends of the 
earth, and continue to the remoteft ages (u). 

Besides thefe molt material circumftances, 
there were feveral others relating to him, which 
were either exprefly foretold, or at leaft hinted 
at ; all which, with thofe already mentioned, 
haa ib evident an accomplilhmerit in Jefus, 
(allowing the tr utli of the facts which the 
Apoftles teftiiied concerning him), that we have 
no reafon to wonder, that they ihould receive 
the word with all readinefs, who fearched the 
fcriptures daily, whether thefe things were fo 
predicted there > as the Apoftles afhrmed (w). 
For I am perfuaded, thai no wife and religious 
perfon could imagine, that God would permit 
an Impoftor to ariie, in whom 10 great a variety 
of predictions, delivered by fo many different 
per Ions, and in fomany diflant ages, fhould have 
an exact accomplifhment. 

Car., ix. 26. p Pfal. xvi. <?, 10. Ifa. xxvi. 1 o. liii. 10 — 
12. q PfaL xvi. 11. ex. 1. r Joelii. 2S, 23. s Ifa, vi. o, 
10, xxix. 10. xlix. 4, 5. liii. 1. lxv. 2. t Pfal. ii. S, kxiu 
27. Ixxxvi. £. Ifa. ii. 2, 3. xi. 12. xlii. r, 4, 6, 7. x!v. 22. 
:dix. 6—12. " Mai. i, 11, u Dsn. ii. 44* vu, 1^ 14* 2*« 



SER. x. of Chriftianity. £33 

When the Apoftles were preaching to 
heathens, it is indeed true, that they generally- 
waved the argument from prophecy, becaufe 
they were not fo capable j udges of it : but then 
they infill on another, which might as ioon 
captivate their belief^ and as juftly vindicate it, 
I mean, " the miracles performed by Chrift, 
and thofe commiflioned and influenced by him." 
Many of thefe were of fuch a nature, as not to 
admit of any artifice or deceit ; efpecially, that 
moft fignal one of his refurretfion from the 
dead, which I may call a miracle performed by, 
as well as upon Chrift \ becaufe he fo exprefly 
declares, that he had himfelf a power to refume 
his life at pleafure (x\ The Apoftles well 
knew, this wa 3 a fa£l of fuch a nature, that they 
who believed this, would never doubt of the 
reft : they therefore often fingle this out, and 
lay the whole Itrefs of their caufe upon it (y). 
This they proved to be true, by their own 
teftimony miraculoufly confirmed ; and in prov- 
ing this, they eftablifh chriftianity on an impreg- 
nable rock. For I may fafely refer it to any of 
you to judge, whether it is an imaginable thing, 
that God Ihould raife the dead body of an im- 
poftor; efpecially when he had folerrmiy appeal- 
ed to fuch a refurrection, as the grand proof of 
his million, and had exprefly fixed the very day 
on which it was to happen (z ; . 

I persuade myfelf you are convinced^ by all 

x John x. iS. y A<Sfo ii. 24 — 32. iii. 15. iy. to. v. 30, 
32. x. 40, 41. xiii. 3c — 39. xvii. 31. xxvi. 23. Rom. x. 9. 

1 Cor. xv. 3 S, 12—22, z Matt, xxvii. 63. John ii. 

t% 21. 



234 



The Evidences 



SER. X* 



this, that they who on the Apo files teftimony 
believed, that the prophecies of the Old Tefta- 
ment were accomplished in Jefus, and that God 
bore witnefs to him by miracles, and railed him 
from the dead, had abundant leafon to believe, 
that the doctrine which Chrift taught was divine, 
and his gofpel a revelation from heaven. And 
if they had rcafon to admit this conclusion, then 
it is plain, that we, who have fuch fatisfaclory 
evidence, on the one hand, that the teitimony 
of the Apoftles was credible, and on the other, 
that this was the fubftance of it, have reafon 
alfo to admit this grand inference from it, atid 
to embrace the gofpel as a faithful faying, and 
and as well worthy of all acceptation (a). This 
is the thing I was attempting to prove •, and here 
I fhould end the argument, were it not for the 
confirmation it may receive fromfome additional 
confederations, which could not properly be in- 
troduced under any of the preceeding heads. I 
add therefore, 

7. In the laft place, " that the truth of the gofpel has 
received farther, and very coniiderabie confirmation, 
from what has happened in the world fince it was firlt 
pubiifhsd." 

And here I mud defire you, more particularly 

to confider, on the one hand, what God has 

been doing to eftabiifh it — and on the other, 
the methods which its enemies have been taken 
to deftroy it. 

(t). Consider "what God has been doing to confirm 
the gofpei lince its firft publication," and you will find 
it k farther evidence of its divine original. 

I might here ar^ue at large, from its furpriz- 



a 1 Tim. i. Xj. 




$ER. x. of Chriftimkyi 23^5 

ing propagation in the world *, — —from the mi- 
raculous powers, with which not only the 
Apoftles, but fucceecing preachers of the gofpel, 

and other converts, were endowed \ from the 

accomplHhment of prophecies recorded in the 

New Teftament ; -and from the prefervation 

of the Jews as a diftintf. people, notwithftand- 
ing the various difficulties and perfeoutions 
through which they have pafled. 

I might particularly urge, in confirmation 
of the truth of Christianity, " the wonderful 
fuccefs with which - it was attended, and the 
furprizing propagation of the gofpel in the 
world." 

I have before endeavoured under a former 
head tp fhew you, that the gofpel met with fo 
favourable a reception in the world, as evident- 
ly proved, that its firft publiftiexs were capable 
of producing fuch evidence of its truth, as an 
impofture could not admit. But now, I carry 
the remark farther, and affert, that considering 
the circumstances of the cafe, it is amazing that 
even truth itfelf, under fo many difadvantages, 
fhould have fo illufttious a triumph 5 and that 
its wonderful fuccefs does evidently argue fuch 
an extraordinary interpofition of God in its 
favour, as may juttly be called a miraculous 
atteftation to it. 

There was not only one of a family, or two 
of at city taken, and brought to Zion (b) but fo 
did the Lord haften it in its appointed time, that 
a little one became a thoufand, and a fmall 
one a ftrong nation (c). And as the Apoftles 
b Jer. iii. 1 4. c Iia. lx. 22. 



236 The Evidences ser. 

themfelves were honoured with very remarkable 1 
fuceefs, fo this divine feed was propagated fo ' 
faft in the next , age, that Pliny tefcifies, " he c 
found the heathen temples in Achaia, almoft 1 
deferied* and Tertullian afterwards boaits, 1 
6 ' that all places but thole temples were filled 
with Chrifcia ns ; fo that were they onl y to with- 1 
draw, cities and provinces would be depopula- 
ted.-)*" [Nor did the gofpel only triumph- thus 
within the boundaries of the Roman Empire ; 
for long before Tertullian was born, Juftih 
Martyr, in his dialogue with Trypho the Jew, 
which feems to have been written not much 
above 100 years after Christ's death, declares, 
"that there was no nation of men, whether 
Greeks or barbarians, not excepting thofe favages* 
that wandered in clans from one region to a- 
nother, and had no fixed habitation, who had 
not learnt to offer prayers and thanfgivings to 
the Father and Maker of all, in the name of 
Jefus who was crucified."] 

Now how can we account for fuch a fcene as 
this, but by laying, that the hand of the Lord 
was with the first preachers of the gofpeJ, and 
therefore fuch multitudes believed, and turned 
unto the Lord <d) ? How had it been poilible, 

* Prope jam defplata Templa- -6c facra folennia dia in- 
termilfa. Piin. Epift. x. 97. 

f Helterni funiits, vestra omnia implevimus, TJrbes, In- 
fnlas, Castella, Municlpia, Cohciliabula, CasUa ipfa, Tribus, 
Decuriasy Palatium, Senatum, Forum ; Sola vobis relinqui- 
mus Templa : — Potuimus & mermes, nec rebelles, fed taa- 
tummodo difcordes, folius divortii invidia adverfus vos dimi- 
cafTe fuffudifTet dominationem vestram tot amimo civiurp, 
&. ipfa destitutione puniffet. Terrul. Apoiog. Gap. xxxvii, 



s£E.» X. of Chriftianity. 237 

tn fo fmall a fountain mould prefently have 
fwelled into a mighty river, and even ha\e 
covered the face of the earth, had it not fprung 
from the fanftuary of God, and been rendered 
thus triumphant by his almighty arm ? 

Had this new religion, fo directly contrary to 
all the prejudices of education, been contrived to 
foothe mens vices, to aiiert their errors, to de- 
fend their fuperstitions, or to promote their 
fecular interests, we rnighteafily have accounted 
for irs prevalence in the world. Had its 
preachers been very profound Philofophers, or 
polite and faihionable Orators, many might 
have been charmed, at least for a while, to follow 
them : cr had the Princes and Potentates of the 
earth declared themfelves its patrons, and armed 
their legions for its defence and propagation, 
multitudes might have been terrified into the 
profeffion, though not a foul could by fuch 
means have been rationally perfuaded to the 
belief of it. But without fome fuch advantages 
as thefe, we can hardly conceive, how any new 
religion ihould fo strangely prevail*, even though 
it had crept into the world in its darkest ages, 
and most barbarous countries, and though it had 
been gradually propofed in the most artful man- 
ner, with the finest veil induftrioufly drawn over 
every part, which might at fir it have given dif- 
guft to the beholder. 

But you well know, that the very reverfe of 
all this was the cafe here. You know, from 
the apparent conftitution of Chriftianity, that 
the tofts and errors, the fuperftitionsand interefts 
of carnal men would immediately rife up againft 



238 we Evidences ser. x 

it as a moft irreconcileable enemy. Ycu know, 
that the learning and wit of the Greeks, and the 
Romans, were early employed to overbear and 
ridicule it. You know, that as all the herd cf 
heathen deities were to be discarded, the Priefts, 
who fubfifted on that craft, mud in intereft find 
themfelves obliged to oppofe it. You know, 
that the Princes of the earth drew their fword 
againft it, and armed torments and death for 
the deftruction of its followers. And yet you 
fee, that it triumphed overall, though publimed 
in ages, and places, of the greateft learning and 
refinement ; and propofed, not in an ornamental 
and artificial manner, but with the utmoft plain- 
nefs : the doctrines of the crofs being always 
avowed as its grand fundamentals, though to 
notorious a ftumbling-blcck both to Jews and 
Gentiles (e), (and the abfolute needfity, net 
only of embracing chriftianity, but alfo of 
renouncing all Idol worfhip, being kififtcd on 
immediately and in the ftrongeft terms, though 
it muft make the gofpel appear the moft lingular 
and unfociable religion that had ever Leeti' taught 
in the world.) 

Had one of the wits, or politicians of thefe 
ages feen the Apofties, and a few other plain 
men, who had been educated aniongft the low- 
eft of the people, as moft of the -firft teachers of 
Chriftianity were, going out aimed with nothing 
but faith, truth, and goodnefs, to encounter the 
power of Princes, the bigotry of Prieits, the 
learning of Philofcphers, the rage of the popiv- 
hce ; and the prejudices of all, how >vculd fas 
e 1 Cer. I 7.V 



sEK- X. of Chriftiariity. 239 

have derided the attempt, and faid with Sanballat, 
what will thefe feeble Jews do (f) ? But had he 
feen the event, furely he muft have owned, with 
the Egyptian Magi, in a far lefs illuftrious 
miracle, that it was the finger of God (g), and 
might juftly have fallen on his face, even a- 
mongft thofe whom he had infulted, with an 
humble acknowledgment that God was in theni 
of a truth (h). 

I might here farther urge " thofe miracles, 
'which were wrought in confirmation of the 
chriftian doftrine, for a confiderabie time after 
the death of the Apoftles." 

The mod fignal, and beft attefted of thefe, 
was the difpofleflion of devils; whom Godfeems 
to have permitted to rage with an unufual 
violence about thofe times, that his fen's triumph 
over them might be fo much the more remark- 
able, and that the Old Serpent might be taken 
in his own craftinefs. I doubt not, but many 
of you have heard, that more than two hundred 
years after the death of Chrift, fome of the mod 
celebrated defenders of the gofpel, which the 
church has in any age produced, I mean 
Tertullian*, and Minutius Foelixf, do not only 
challenge any of their heathen enemies and per- 
fecutors, to bring them a Demoniack, engaging, 
at the hazard of their lives, to oblige the evii 
fpirit, in the name, and by the authority of 
Chrift, to quit his pofielfion ; but do alfo appeal 
to it, as a fact publicly known, that thofe who 
were agitated by fuch fpirits, flood terrified, and 

f Neh, iv, 2. g Exod v viii, 10, hi Cor, xiv, 25, 
* Tertul, Apolog, cap, ^vii, f Miimt, Feel, cap, xxviij 



The Evidences 



ser. x, 



amazed in the prefence of a Chriftian, and that 
their pretended Gods were compelled then tc 
confefs themfelves. devils. 

I wave the teftimonies of fome later writer; 
of the chriftian church, left the credulity of their 
temper, join'd with the circumstances attending 
fome of the facts they record, mould furnifl; 
out objections against their testimony ; though 
I think we cannot, without great injustice to the 
character of the learned and pious Atigustin . 
fufpeti the truth of fome amazing fa£ts of thi 
kind, which he has attested, as of his own per 
fonal and certain knowledge!. 

Nor muft I on this cccafion forget to men 
tion "the accomplishment of feveral prophecies 
recorded in the New Teftament," as a farthe 
confirmation given by God to the gofpel. 

The molt eminent and fingle inltancc unde 
this head, is that of our Lord's prediction con 
cerning the definition of Jerusalem, as it i 
recorded by St Matthew in his twenty-fourth 
chapter. The tragical hi (tor y of it is moft cir 
cumftantially defcribed by Jofephus, a Jewifh 
prieft, who was an eye-witnefs of it ; and tht 
defcriptipn he has given of this fad calamity, fc 
exactly correfponds to the prophecy, that ova 
would 'have thought, had we not known the 
contrary, that it had been written by a chrijtiar. 
on purpofe to illuftrate it : [And one can neve* 
enough admire that feries of amazing provi- 
dences, by which the author was prefer ved frorr 
moft imminent danger ; that he might leave u,s 

i Augustin, de Qjvit, Dei, Lib. xxii, cap, 8, 



ser. x. • cf ChmJtianity* 241 

that invaluable treafure which his writings con* 
tain r . 

We have no need of any farther evidence, 
than we find in him 3 of the exaft accomplifh- 
merit of what was prophefied concerning the 
deftruftion of Jennalem : But our Lord had 
aifo foretold the long continued defolation o£ 
their temple (i) ; and I cannot forbear remind- 
ing you of the awful fan&ion that was given to 
that part of the prediction : For it is well known 
that a heathen hiftorian has allured us, thau 
when Julian the Apoftate, in deliberate con- 
tempt of that prediction, folemnly and refolute- 
ly undertook to rebuild it, his impious defign 
was miraculoufly fruftrated again and again, 
and the workmen confumed by globes of fire, 
which broke out from the foundations \ .] 

The prediction of St Paul concerning the 
man of fin > and the apoftacy of the later times 
(k), is alfo well worthy of our remark. And 
though a great deal of the book of revelation be 

f Jofeph. Bell. Jud. Lib. m 9 cap. 8. 
i Mat. xxiii, 38, xxiv, 2. 

f [Cum itaque fortiter rei instaret Alypius ; juvaretque 
Fxovihcise Reclor, metuendi Globi Flammarum, prope fun- 
(Jamenta crebris affultibus erumpentes, fecere locum, exustis 
aliquoties operantibus, inacceffum ; hocque modo, elemento 
destinatius repellente, ceffavit inceptum. Ammian. Mar- 
cell. Lib. xxiii. fub init. I think one might argue the author 
to have been a heathen, from this cold way of telling a story 
fo glorious to Christianity : " The element repelling them 
by a kind of obstinate fatality." The learned reader will 
eafily obferve with how different an air Socrates (Hist. L&. 
iii. cap. 20.) and Sozomen (Hist. Lib. v. cap. 22,) recount 
md most reafonabiy triumph in it.] 

k 2 Their, m x wi, 1 Tim, iv, 1—3, 

o 



'1 4 2 tT/:e Evidences ser. zt. 

ftill concealed under a dark veil ; yet the divi- 
fion of the Roman empire into ten kingdoms, 
the ufurpation, persecutions and idolatry of the 
Homiflv church, and the long duration of the 
papal power, with feveral other extraordinary 
events, which no human prudence could have 
forefeen, and which have happened long fince 
the publication of that book, are fo clearly fore- 
told there, that I cannot but look on "that part 
of fcripture as an invaluable treafure * ^ and 
tfrink it not at ajl improbable, that the more vi- 
sible accomplifhment of fome of its other pro- 
phecies may be a great means of reviving the 
Chriftian caufe, which is at prefent fo much on 
the declinef. 

" The preservation of the Jews as a diftinct 
people," is another particular under this head, 
which well deferves our attentive regard. 

'Tis plain they are vaftly numerous, notwith- 
standing all the flaughter and deftruction of 
this people, in former, and in later ages. They 
are difperfed in various moil drftant nations, 
and particularly in theie parts of the world 
where chriftianity is profeffed : And though 
they are expofed to great hatred and contempt, 
on account of their faith, and in molt places 
fubje&ed to civil incapacities, if not to unchriL 

* [I can with great pleafure refer my reader to the learn- 
ed commentary on this book lately publifhed by the reverend 
Mr Lowman ; from which I have received more fatisfacben 
with refpect to many of its difficulties, than I ever found 
elfe where, or expected to have found at all.] 

f Hinc igitur apud nos futurorum quoque Fide^ tuta est, 
lamfcillicet probatorum, quia cum illis quae qnotidie proband 
tur praedicebantur, Tertu^, Apol, cap, xx, 



SER X. of Chrijlianlty* 243 

tiap feverities *, yet they are ftill moft obftinate- 
ly tenacious of their religion : which is the 
more wonderful, as their fathers were fo prone 
10 apoftatize from it } and as moft of them 
feem to be utter „ ftrangers, either to piety, or 
humanity, and pour out the greateft contempt 
on the moral precepts of their own law, while 
they are fo attached to the ceremonial inftitu- 
tions of it, uoublefome and inconvenient as 
they are. Now feribufly reflect, what an evi- 
dent haul of providence is here *, that by their 
difperfion, prefervatioh, and adherence to their 
religion, it mould come to pafs, that chriftians 
fhould daily lee the accomplishment of many 
remarkable prophecies concerning this people* ^ 
and that we fhould always have amongft us 
fuch a crowd of unexceptionable witnefies to 
the truth. of thofe ancient Hebrew records, on: 
which fo much of the evidence of the gofpet 
depends : Records, which are many of them, 
fo full to the purpofe for which we allege them, 
that (as a celebrated writer very well obferves), 
" Had the whole body of the Jewifh natioa 
been converted to chriftianity, men would cer- 
tainly have thought, they had been forged by 
chnitians, and have looked upon them, with, 
the prophecies of the Sybils, as made many 
years after the events they pretend to fortel.'* 
And to add no more here, the prefervation of 
the Jews as a diftinct people evidently leaves 

* [This important thought is most excellently illustrated 
- in that incomparable book of Dr Jackfon's, called, " The 
Eternal Truth of- the Scriptures," &,c r efpecially Book I, 
Part I. Sect. III. Chap, 10—13. The whole of the Section 



244 The Evidences sr.R, x 

room for the accomplishment of thofe old and 
new teftament promifes J) ; which relate to 
their national converfion and reftoration: where- 
as that would be impoflible in itfelf, or^at leait 
be impoflible to be known, if they were promii- 
cuoufly blended with other people. On the 
Tvhole, it is fuch a fcene in the conduct of pro- 
vidence, as I am well allured -cannot be para- 
lleled in the hiftory of any other nation on 
earth, and affords a mod obvious and impor- 
tant argument in favour of the gofpel. 

Thus has chriftianity been farther confirm- 
ed, fmce its firft publication, by what God has 
done to eftablifh it. It only remains, that we 
confider, 

(2.) What confirmation it receives, " from the methods 
which its enemies have taken to destroy it." 

And thefe have generally been, either perfe- 
ction, or Falfehood, or cavilling at fome par- 
ticulars in the revelation, without entering into 
the grand argument on which it is built, and 
fairly debating what is offered in in its defence. 
Now who would not think the better of a cauie, 
for being thus attacked ? 

At firft you know, that the profefiorn, and 
efpeciaUy the preachers of the gofpel, were ie- 
verely pcrfecuted. In every city bonds and im- 
prifonments awaited them (m). As foon as 
ever the apoftles began to preach Jefus and his 
refurreftion, the JewHh rulers laid hold on 
them, and having confined and fcourged them, 
ftrictly prohibited their fpeaking any more in 

1 Deut, xxx, 3—^. Ifa. xxvu. 12, 13. Ames ix, iJ--!^ 

m. Acls xx, 23. 



SER. X. of Chrfiianlty. 24$ 

that name (n). A little .while after, Stephen 
was murdered (o) j and afterwards James (p)» 
and fame other of the apoiiles. Now certainly 
fuch a conduft did evidently (hew a confciouf- 
neis, that they were not able to anfwer the 
apoitles, and to fupport their own caufe by the 
fair methods of reaibn and argument \ to which, 
lb far as the hiftory informs us, they made no> 
pretence \ but attempted to bear them down, 
by dint of authority, and to filence them by 
brutal force. 

The time would fail me, . mould I attempt 
particularly to (hew, how thefe unrighteous 
methods were purlued in fucceeding ages, and 
diftant countries. The favage cruelties of Nero 
to thefe innocent and holy men were fuch, as 
railed the p:ty even of their enemies* : Yet 
this was one of the lean: extenfive and deftruc- 
tive of the ten general perfections, which arofe 
in the Roman empire, betides feveral other in 
the neighbouring countries, of which ecclefia-* 
ftical hiitory informs us. 

These early enemies of the gofpel added 
falfehood . and flanders to * their inhumanities. 
They endeavoured to murder the reputations 
of the chriftians, as well as their perions, and 
were not afhamed [to reprefent them as haters 
of the whole human fpecies f, for 110 imagma- 

n Acb iv, 17, v 40. o aAs vii, 58. p Acb xii, 2, 
* [This a haughty and cruel enemy confeiles, even" while 
he biafphemes the religion of thefe glorious confeffors : 
{Juanqum adverius fontes, &. noviliima exempla meritos, 
Miieratio oriebatur. Tacit. Annal. Lib. xv. J- 4 44.] 

t Od io hurriaru generis convicli funt. Tacit, ubi fuors* 

03 



246 The Evidences . ^er. x 

able reafon, but becaufe they would not affb- 
ciate themfelves in their idolatrous worfhip, 
but with regard to charity and truth, were 
ftrongly bearing their teftimony againft it f :] 
Nay, they charged them with human facrifices, 
inceft, idolatry, and all the crimes, for which 
themfelves and their foojifli gods were indeed 
juftly deteftable ; but from which the chriftians, 
knew how to vindicate themfelves, highly to 
their own honour, and to the everlafting re- 
proach of thefe malignant and peltilent accu- 
iers : And they have not failed to do it in many 
jioble apologies, which through the divine pro- 
vidence are tranfrnitted to us, and are incom - 
parably the molt valuable pf any ancient 
iminfpired writings. 

Such were the infamous and fcandalous 
methods, by which the gofpel was oppofed in 
the earlieft ages of the church - y and 1 cannot 
forbear adding, " that the meafure3 more late- 
ly taken to iubvert it, efpeciaily amongft our~ 
ielves, feem to me rather to reflecl a glory 
upon it" Its unhappy enemies have been told 
again and again, that we put the proof of it 
only upon plain fa£t. They themfelves do not, 
and cannot deny, that it prevailed early in the 
world, as we have {hewn at large. There muic 
have- been fome man, or body of men, who firit 
introduced it : They generally confefs, that 

f [This matter is fet in the clearest and most beautiful - 
light by the fagacious Mr Warburton, in his Divine Lega- 
tion of Mofes, (Vol. i. pag, 292—^295,) to whole labours the 
learned and the Chriftian world are indebted beyond ex- 
preffton, for as great a number of original thoughts, as are 
perhaps any where to be found in an equal compafs.) 



ser. zc» of Christianity. 24 7 

Chriit and his apoftles were the perfons : And 
thefe apoftles (on whofe teftimony what we 
know of Chriit chiefly depends) muft have 
been enthufrafts, or impoftors, if their teftimony 
was falfe. Now which of thefe fchemes will 
the unbeliever take ? It feems, that the deifts 
of the prefent age fix on neither, as being fe- 
cretly confcious they can fupport neither y but 
they content themfeives with cavilling at fome 
circurnftances attending the revelation wi/hout 
daring to encounter its grand evidence that 
is, they have been laborioufly attempting to 
prove it ** to be improbable, or abiurd, to fup- 
pofe that to have been, which neverthelefs 
plainly appears to have been fa^t." One moil 
weakly and fophiftically pretends to prove, in 
defiance of the common lenfe of mankind, that 
the light of nature is a perfect rule, and there- 
fore that .all revelation is needlefs, and indeed 
impoffible. Another difguifes the miracles of 
Chriit by falfe and foolilh reprefentatiens of 
them, and then fets himfelf to ridicule them as 
idle tales. And a third takes a great deal of 
fruitleis pains to (hew, that forrfe prophecies 
referred to in the new teftament are capable 
of another fenfe, different from that in which 
the apoftles have taken them. Thefe things 
have been fet in a very artful and fallacious 
light by perfons, whofe names will be perhaps 
tranfmitted to pofterity, with the infamous 
glory of having been leaders in the caufe of 
infidelity ; but not a man of th^rn undertakes 
dire£Hy to anfwer, what has been faid to afcer- 
tain the grand faft. Nay, they generally take 



24& 23* Evidences ser. x. 

no more notice of the pofitive evidence, by 
which it is even demonftrated, than if they had 
never heard it propofed ; though they cavil at 
incidental pafTa°es in thofe books, in which it 
is moll clearly Ttated. And as for what they 
have urged, though perhaps fome, who were 
before weary of chriftianity, may have taken 
occafion from their writings to reject it ; and 
others for want of confulting the anfwers to 
them, may have been unwarily infnared -> yet 
the examination of thefe points has been greatly 
to 'the honour and vindication of the truth, 
which feems on this occafion to have been fet 
in a clearer and ftronger light than ever, at 
leaft in thefe later ages. 

The caufe of chriftianity has greatly gained 
by debate, and the gofpel comes like fine gold 
out of the furnace, which the more it is tried, 
the more it is approved. I own, the defenders 
of the gofpel have appeared with very different 
degrees of ability for the work ; nor could it 
be otherwife amongft fuch numbers of them : 
But on the whole, though the patrons of infi- 
delity have been mailers of fome wit, humour 
and addrefs, as well as of a moderate {hare of 
learning, and generally much more than a mo- 
derate ihare of aflurance ; yet fo great is the 
force of truth, that (unlefs we may except thofe 
writers, who have unhappily called for the aid 
of the civil magiftrate in the controverfy,) I 
cannot recollect, that I have feen any defence 
of the gofpel, which has not, on the whole, 
been fufficient to eftabliih it, notwithstanding 



1 



SER. X., of Christianity. 249 

ali the fophiftical arguments of its mofc fubtle 
antagoniits. 

[ThIs is an obfervation, which is continually 
gaming new ilrength, as new aflaults are mad^ 
upon the gofpel. And I cannot forbear faying\ 
that as it were by a kind of judicial infatuation, 
forne who have diftinguifried themfelves in the 
wretched caufe of infidelity, have been permit- 
ted to fall into fuch grots mifreprefcntations, 
fuch lenfelefs inconsistencies, and iucli palpable 
falfehoods # , and in a word, into fuch a various 
and malignant fuperfluity of naughtinefs ; that 
to a wife and pious mind they mult appear like 
thofe venomous creatures, which are faid to 
carry an antidote in their bowels againft their 
own poifon. A virtuous and well-bred deift 
may turn away from fome modern pieces of 
this kind with fcorn and abhorrence ; and a 
chriftian might almolt be tempted to wiih, that 
the books, with all their fcancals about them 
might be tranfmitted tO fc pofterity, left when 
they come to live, like the- writings of fome of 
the ancient heathens, only in thofe of their 
learned and pious anfwerers, it mould hardly 
be credited, that ever the enemies of the gofpel 
in fuch an enlightened age, mould be capable 
of fo much impiety and folly." 

Thus I have given you a brief view of the 

f [I mention not here that mean buffoonery and feurrili- 
tft thst indufirious, though awkward difguife, and monft'rous 
mixture ot the lecptic and dogmatift, which the learned and 
ingenious Mr Warburton has animadverted upon with fuch 
justice and spirit, in his fine dedication to the Divine Lega- ' 
tion of i\lotes demonstrated.] 



250 27 ; ^ Evidences ser. 

chief arguments in proof chriftiaiiity ; and the 
farn of the whole is this. 

The gofpel is probSUe in theory $ as con- 
Cdering the nature vf God, and the circum- 
fiances of mankind, there was reafon to hope a 
revelation might be given ; and if any were 
given, we mould naturally apprehend its inter- 
nal evidence would be fuch, as that of the gof- 
pel is, and its external fuch, as it is Slid to be. 
iiut it is alio true in fadt , for chriftianity was 
early profefled, as it was firlt introduced by 
Jems of Nazareth, whofe life and doctrines 
were publifhed by his immediate attendants j 
whofe books are preferved still in their ori- 
ginal language, and in the main are faithfully 
tramlated into our own : So that the books of 
the new testament now in your hands may be 
depended upon, as written by the perfons whofe 
names they bear. And admitting this, the 
truth of the gofpel follows by a train of very 
eafy confequences j for the authors certainly 
knew the truth of the facts they relate *, and 
confidering what appears of their character and 
circumstances, we can never believe they would 
have attempted to deceive us : or if they had, 
they could not have gained credit in the world ^ 
yet they did gain it in a remarkable manner > 
therefore the facts they attefted are true. And 
the truth of the gofpel evidently follows from 
the certainty of thofe facts, and is much con- 
firmed by what has happened in the world 
fince the firft publication of it. 

I shall conclude what I have to fay on this 
fiibjeft, with a few. words by way of rejection. 



SER. X. - of Christianity. ' 25 1 

1 Let us gratefully acknowledge the divine gooc-Refs. 
in favouring us with ib excellent a revelation, and 
confirming it to us by inch an ample evidence, 

We Thould be daily adoring the God of na- 
ture, for lighting up the fun, that glorious, 
though imperfect image of his own unapproach- 
able luftre ; and appointing it to gild the earth 
with its various rays, to chear us with its be- 
nign influences, and to guide and direct us, in 
our journies, and our labours. But how incom- 
parably more valuable is that day fpring from on 
high which has vifited us> that fun of righteouf- 
nefs, which is rifen upon us, to give light to 
them that fit in darknefs, and in the fhadow of 
death, and to guide our feet into the way of 
peace (q) ? Oh christians, (for I now addrefs 
myfieff to you, whofe eyes are fp happy as in- 
deed to fee, and your ears as to hear (r),) what 
reafon have you for daily and hourly - praife ! 
When your minds are delighted with contem- 
plating the riches of gofpei-grace, when you 
view with wonder and joy the harmonious. con- 
trivance of our redemption, when you feel the 
burden of your guilt removed, the freedom of 
your addrefs to the throne of grace encouraged, 
and fee the profpecl: of a fair inheritance of 
eternal glory opening upon you then in the 
pleating tranfport of your fouls, borrow the joy- 
ful anthem of the Pfa[mist, and fay, with the 
humblest gratitude and felf-refignation, God is 
the Lord, who hath given us light ; bind the 
iacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the 
altar (s). Adore God, who first commanded 

q Mai. iv. 2, x Mat. xiii. 16. s Pfal. cxviii. 27. 



252 The Evidences' ser. 

the light to fhlne out of darknefs, that by t 
d^icoveries of his word and the operations 
his fpirit, he has mined in your hearts, to gr 
you the knowledge of his glory, as refiectc 
from the face of his Son (t). Let us all ado 
him, that this revelation hath reached us, w] 
live in an age and country fo distant from th 
in which it first appeared •, while there are 1 
this day, not only dark corners but regions 
the earth, which are full of the habitations 
idolatry and cruelty (u). 

Let me here particularly addrefs myfelf 
thofe, whofe education and circumstances 
life have given them opportunities of a full 
enquiry, than it was proper for me here to pj 
pole them, you the state of thole ancient 
modern nations* that have been left merely 
the light of unaflisted reafon •, even to you, ii 
who are acquainted with the history of th . 
Gods, the rites of their Priests, the tales, 2 
even the hymns of their Poets, (thofe beaur 
trifle* ;) nay, I will add, the reafonings of tJ :\ 
lageft Philofophers) all the precarious, and 
the erroneous things they have faid, ^w! / 
religion and immortality are concerned*. 

t 2 Cor, iv 6, u Pfal, Ixxiv, 20, 
* [The great author I mentioned above has (hewn 
rnost convincing manner, that the whole body of the Gi 
Philofophers disbelieved the doctrine of future rewards in 
punishments, thou°h they popularly taught it as necel 
to iociety ; and held no other immortality of the foul, t - 
what was the refuit of a most atheistical notion, (mode: 
known by the name of Spinozifm,) that the Univerle « 
God: (See Mr Warburton's Divine Legation of Mc 
Book iii, Se&- 2, 3, 4,) Which furely is one of the stru 



SU X. ' cf Christianity. 

ive fomcunK though, that God gave to fotne 
the most ctlti -rted Pagan writers that uncom- 
on fhare of gemus and eloquence, that they 
iight, as it were, by their art embalm the mon- 
ers of antiquity, that fo fucceeding ages might 
.:e, in a more affecting view than we could 
therwife have done, how weak the humau 
*ind is in its best estate, and the need, which 
le greateft, as well as themeaneft of mankind 
ave, of being taught by a revelation from a- 
$ove. Permit me to remind you, that while 
;ou are daily converting with fuch monuments 
•s thefe, (as I know fome of you are,) and are 
.Ifo furveying the evidences of chriftianity, in a 
arger, and more diftinft view, are under pec 
liar obligations, to be very thankful for the gov * 
»el yourfelves, as well as to companionate the 
afe of thofe, to whom it has never been offered, 
>r by whom it is flighted. And this leads nie 
o another reflection ; 

2. What reafon have wl to pity thcfe, who reject this 
glorious gofpel, even when they have opportunities y, 
enquiring into its clearer!: evidences? 

Such undoubtedly there are in our own age 
nd nation ; and furely we ihouid fometimes be- 
low a companionate thought upon them, and 
ift up an humble prayer for them ; if God 
>eradventure w^ill give them repentance to the 
acknowledging of the truth ; that they may 

ft proofs of the need of a revelation, that the world ever 
aw, and the moft affecting comment on the words of the 
earned apostle, i Cor. L u. «« The world by wikiom knew 
ot God ;" but " profeffing themfelves to be wife, t^hev be- 
ame fools," Rom, i, 22. 

P 



254 The Evidences ser. 

recover themfelves out of the fnare of 'the de^ it 
who are now led captive by him at his pleafure 
(w% We fhould pity Heathens and Mahorr 
tans, under their darknefs and errors : but ho 
much mere deplorable is the cafe of thefe, w] 
though they dwell in EmmanueFs land, and i; 
the valley of vifion, turn k into the valley 
the fhadow of death, by clofing their eyes agai 
fo bright a luftre, and (topping their ears agai 
the voice of the charmer (x) ? They are ind< 
in their own conceit the only people, and v 
dom will die with them (y) ; fo that -to be fi 
they will fcorn our pity : but who can forb 
it? Is there a more melancholy thought than tl 
that the Son of God mould have done fo mi 
to introduce and eftablifh the gofpel, and 
ipirit fo much^to perpetuate and increafe its t 
dence, and that after all, it mould be conter 
tuoufly defpifed, even by creatures who 
perifhing without it ? That the blefled Je 
inftead of being received with open arms as 
great deliverer, Ihould either be treated as 
empty name ; or if acknowledged to be a 
perlbn, fhould theniexeprefented as a vifion 
■enthufiaft, or a wicked impoftor ; .for ther< 
no other alternative ? and this, not only, (tho 
I believe, molt frequently), by men of profit 
and abandoned lives, but fometimes by peri ft 
of external morality and decency, of great- hu . 
nity and fweetnefs of temper, (for fuca I ki 
are to be found amongft them,) as we|l as r 
of wit and genius, of politenefs and learning 
human ' prudence and experience in affairs. 

.w 2 Tim, ii. 26. x Pfol. lviii. 4, 5. y Job %il 



X. of ' Chrijlianity. 255 
y alfo add, that it is the cafe of fome, who 
re the children of pious parents, who were 
ned up in religious exercifes, who once dif- 
ered feribus impreffions, and gave very 
:ouraging hopes. Alas, whither are they 
en ! and whither have we reafon to fear, they 
1 at length fall ! How (hall we (helter thofe, 
t were once our brethren, that are perhaps 
[ our friends, from the awful fentenee, which 
gofpel denounces againft ail that reje£t it, 
•'ichout any exception? As to the wretches, 
'ia f add infult and derifion to their infidelity, I 
' .mble to think of that load of guilt, which they 
rc bringing on thernfelves, and how near they 
proach to the unpardonable fin, if they have 
t already committed it. For the reft, who 
k\ *ave in a more modeft and fober manner, it 
v , no doubt, be a very difficult talk to con- 
i zc them •, and fo much the rather, as fome 
them, by too eafy a tranfition have renounced 
r! ny of the moft important principles of natural 
igion, nay, I might add, even the whole of k, 
\ ether with the chriitian revelation. But the 
uences of divine grace are almighty ; let us 
mimend them to theie, and omit no other 
< >er method, either of recovering thofe who 
r already feduced, or at leaft of fecuring thofe 
are not yet infe&ed, but may be (as molt 
f ie youth are, efpecially in the molt populous 
ss), in imminent danger of the contagion* 
his end let me add, 

How reefonable is it, that chriftians lhould form a farm- 
lar acquaintance with the great evidences of our owi* 
ommon faith 

Pa 



The Evidences . SER. x 
It is what we fo apparently owe to the ho- 
nour of God, to the mtereft of Chrift, to the 
peace of our own fouls, and the edification o: 
others, that I hope, I need not urge it at large 
efpecially Confidering what was laid in the in 
troduftion to thefe difcourfes. In ccnfequenct 
of all, let it be your care to make the evidence 
of chriftianity the fubjecl: of your ferious reflec 
tions, and of your frequent converfe : efpecially 
itady your bibles, where there are fuch mark 
of truth and divinity to be found, that I believe 
lew that have familiarly known them, and hav 
had a reliih for them, were ever brought to mak 
ft* ip wreck of the faith as it is in Jefus. Abov 
all, let it be your care to a£l on the rules whicl 
are here laid down ; and then> you will fin< 
3 our faith growing in a happy proportion, an* 
will experience the truth of our Saviour's decla 
ration, that if any man will refolutely and faith 
tally do his will, he ihall know of the chrifliai 
doctrine vs hither it be of God (z). I veril . 
believe, it is the purity of its precepts, whic; 
iizs-at the bottom of moft mens oppofition to it ; 
or a natural pride of heart, which gives them a: 
averiion to fo humbling a fgheme ; or a fon< 
sfFeclation of feeming wifer than others, i: 
rejecting what moft of their neighbours do a 
leaft profefs to believe. When thefe unhapp- 
prejudices and conceptions are by divine grac 
conquered and rooted out, the evidence of trod 
will daily appear with an increafmg luftre •, a 
the light of the fun does, to an eye recovering 
from a film, with which it had been overgrown 

z John v;i. 17. 



/ X. of Chrijiiamty. 257 

i which before had veiled it with midnight in 
i midft of noon. Once more, 

\. How folicitous mould we be to embrace and obey that 
gofpel, which comes attended with fuch abundant evi- 
dences ! 

I may undoubtedly addrefs myfelf to moft of 
m ? my friends, and fay, as Paul did to King 
grippa, believed thou the prophets (a), and I 
ay add, the Evangelifts, and the Apoftles ? 
es, I know that you believe them yet let me 
street and charge you, not to reft here, but 
:tentively to examine how far your hearts are 
Feezed, and your lives regulated by fuch a 
elief. The chriftian revelation is a practical 
aing ; and it is heard, it is, believed, it is pro- 
efled, and even defended in vain, if it be not 
beyed. Therefore do we fo frequently read 
i obeying the truth, and obeying the gofpel, as 
matter of fo great importance v b\ 
In this gofpel, the wrath of God is levealed 
rom heaven againft all ungodlinefs and unrigh- 
eoufnefs of men; but it is revealed, with re- 
loubted terror againft that audacious finner, 
who holds the truth in unrighteoufnefs (c). In 
his gofpel, the Lord Jefus Chrift is exalted, both 
.s a prince and a Saviour (d) •, and it is not with 
mpunity, that the impenitent rebel can reje£t 
lis yoke > and trample on his blood : for if he 

a . Adfc xxvl 27. k b [Rem. ii. 8. vi. 27. Gal tii. I* 
% Theff. i. 8. 1 Pet i. 22. iv. 17. To which we may add 
John iii. 36. where, he that is difobedient to the .Son, is 
with with great propriety oppofed to he that believeth on 
ne Swn. See Family Expofitor, Vol. I. nag. 163. Note I] 

i Roin. i. 18. dAclsv. 31. 



258 - The Evidences 

that defpifed M«fes's law died -without n 
of how much forer punifnment, than 
capital execution, mult they be thought v 
who have poured contempt on fuch a iov 
and on fuch a Redeemer (e) ? 

Oh let it be moil fecretly and freq 
recollected, that this gofpd is the touch- 
by which you are another day to be triec 
balance, in which an impartial judge will 
you j and muft on the whole prove you: 
lading triumph, or your everlasting to: 
The bletfed God did not introduce it wit/ 
folemn notice, fuch high expectation, fuch 
pous miracles, fuch awful fanftions, th; 
might reject, or difhonour it, at pleafure : 
wiil certainly be found, to the greatesi 
meanest, cf thofe that hear it, a favour ( 
unto life, or a favour of death unto death ( 
Let it therefore be your immediate ca 
enquire which of thefe it is like to prove tc 
fouls ; fines it is fo far from being a vain 1 \ 
that it is really your very life (g). If i 
hitherto been defpifed, and that blefled Rec 
er, in whom it io apparently centers, has 
neglected y remember, that all which has . 
faid in confirmation of its truth, does bi 
effeft prove, that the hand-writing of God 
felf is fet to the fentence of your eternal c 
demnation. Oh therefore allow not yourfi 
a moment's rest, till you have^with humble 
mimon applied to his throne, while yet the 
hope that it may be reverfed* 

t c Heb. x. *S, 29. f 2 Cor.ii. i<5.' g Deut, xxxiL 



• X. cf Chri/liamty* . 

\nd as for you, my bretiyreS^ ^who have 
eived Christ jefus the Lord, c>e extorted to 
lk in him (h) ^ fince it is the defign of his 
fpel to teach us, to tleny ungodlinefs and 
}tdhf lulls, and to" l&e^aberly, rightecufly, 
d godly (i) ; and this, not only as you have fo 
mfortable an affuranee, that your labour fhall 
it be in vain in (he Lord (k), but a? it will be, 
1 the whole, the molt effectual method you 
m take in your refpeflive ftations to promote 
ie gofpel. If you indeed honour it and loye 
, and defire it may be propagated in the world, 
:t it be your care, not only to defend it by 
our tongues, but to adorn it by your lives j 
nd in the words of that great champion in this 
acred caufe, " be blamelefs and harmlefs, the 
hildren- of God without rebuke, in the roidft 
»f a crooked and perverfe generation, Ihining 
imongft them as lights in the world, and fo 
molding forth the world of life" (1); and perhaps 
t may ferve, not only to entertain their eyes 
vith wonder and glory, but to guide their feet 
nto the way of peace, and may engage them alfo 
o join with you in glorifying your Father which 
.s in Heaven (m). Amen ! 

h Col. ii. 6. i Tit. ii. 12. k i Cor. xv. ;8, WliiL 
ii. 15, 1 6, m Mat. v. 6, 



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